diff --git a/crates/engine/src/clip_group_file.rs b/crates/engine/src/clip_group_file.rs
index 66735f9b..e60beedd 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/clip_group_file.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/clip_group_file.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ pub fn import(e: &mut Engine, path: &str, first: Option<TrackId>, at: Samples) -
                 continue;
             }
             c.id = s.new_clip_id();
+            soundcraft_model::truncate_chars(&mut c.name, soundcraft_model::MAX_NAME_CHARS);
             c.start = at.saturating_add(scale(c.start.max(0)));
             c.length = scale(c.length).max(1);
             c.group = Some(group_id);
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/io.rs b/crates/engine/src/io.rs
index f1bf6a49..a99f7cc6 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/io.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/io.rs
@@ -203,7 +203,8 @@ pub fn import_midi_bytes(e: &mut Engine, bytes: &[u8], at: Samples, tempo_map: b
         if tr.sequence.notes.is_empty() {
             continue;
         }
-        let name = if tr.name.trim().is_empty() { format!("MIDI {}", i + 1) } else { tr.name.clone() };
+        let mut name = if tr.name.trim().is_empty() { format!("MIDI {}", i + 1) } else { tr.name.clone() };
+        soundcraft_model::truncate_chars(&mut name, soundcraft_model::MAX_NAME_CHARS);
         let id = s.add_track(TrackKind::Instrument, ChannelFormat::Stereo, Some(&name));
         let drums = tr.sequence.notes.iter().all(|n| n.channel == 9);
         if let Some(t) = s.track_mut(id) {
@@ -1265,6 +1266,17 @@ mod rate_tests {
 mod name_tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn a_midi_track_name_is_cut_to_a_length_that_can_be_drawn() {
+        let note = soundcraft_midi::Note { pitch: 60, velocity: 100, release_velocity: 64, channel: 0, start: 0, length: 960 };
+        let sequence = soundcraft_midi::Sequence { notes: vec![note], ..Default::default() };
+        let smf = soundcraft_midi::Smf { tracks: vec![soundcraft_midi::SmfTrack { name: "n".repeat(1_000_000), sequence }], ..Default::default() };
+        let mut e = Engine::default();
+        let ids = import_midi_bytes(&mut e, &soundcraft_midi::write_smf(&smf).unwrap(), 0, false).unwrap();
+        let track = e.session().track(ids[0]).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!((track.name.len(), track.clips()[0].name.len()), (soundcraft_model::MAX_NAME_CHARS, soundcraft_model::MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn new_sources_take_the_first_free_file_name() {
         let mut s = Session::default();
diff --git a/crates/model/src/lib.rs b/crates/model/src/lib.rs
index 55d605d0..ec8aaa2c 100644
--- a/crates/model/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/model/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ pub use markers::{Group, MarkerKind, MemoryLocation};
 pub use mixer::{
     Bus, ChannelFormat, INSERT_SLOTS, Insert, Mixer, OutputPath, Route, SEND_SLOTS, SendSlot, Speaker, SurroundPan, fader_db_to_pos, fader_pos_to_db,
 };
-pub use session::{BitDepthSetting, EditMode, EditState, SESSION_EXTENSION, Session, SessionError, Tool, TrackView, ZoomState};
+pub use session::{
+    BitDepthSetting, EditMode, EditState, MAX_COMMENT_CHARS, MAX_NAME_CHARS, SESSION_EXTENSION, Session, SessionError, Tool, TrackView, ZoomState,
+    truncate_chars,
+};
 pub use source::{Source, SourceAudio, SourcePool, VideoSource};
 pub use track::{Playlist, TRACK_COLORS, Track, TrackHeight, TrackKind};
 
diff --git a/crates/model/src/session.rs b/crates/model/src/session.rs
index 9d384f5b..a3f906c3 100644
--- a/crates/model/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/model/src/session.rs
@@ -575,6 +575,39 @@ impl Session {
             self.sample_rate = SampleRate::default();
         }
         self.tempo.sanitize();
+        truncate_chars(&mut self.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS);
+        truncate_chars(&mut self.comments, MAX_COMMENT_CHARS);
+        for t in &mut self.tracks {
+            truncate_chars(&mut t.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS);
+            truncate_chars(&mut t.comments, MAX_COMMENT_CHARS);
+            for p in &mut t.playlists {
+                truncate_chars(&mut p.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS);
+                p.clips.iter_mut().for_each(|c| truncate_chars(&mut c.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+            }
+        }
+        for m in &mut self.markers {
+            truncate_chars(&mut m.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS);
+            truncate_chars(&mut m.comments, MAX_COMMENT_CHARS);
+        }
+        self.key_signatures.iter_mut().for_each(|(_, k)| truncate_chars(k, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+        self.busses.iter_mut().for_each(|b| truncate_chars(&mut b.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+        self.outputs.iter_mut().for_each(|o| truncate_chars(&mut o.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+        self.groups.iter_mut().for_each(|g| truncate_chars(&mut g.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+        self.sources.iter_mut().for_each(|s| truncate_chars(&mut s.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+        self.videos.iter_mut().for_each(|v| truncate_chars(&mut v.name, MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+    }
+}
+
+/// The most characters kept of a name read from a file: longer ones can't be shown, and drawing
+/// a name of a million characters overflows the renderer's buffers.
+pub const MAX_NAME_CHARS: usize = 256;
+/// The most characters kept of a comment read from a file.
+pub const MAX_COMMENT_CHARS: usize = 4096;
+
+/// Cut `s` to at most `max` characters.
+pub fn truncate_chars(s: &mut String, max: usize) {
+    if let Some((end, _)) = s.char_indices().nth(max) {
+        s.truncate(end);
     }
 }
 
@@ -657,6 +690,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(s.unique_track_name("Audio"), "Audio 1");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn names_from_a_file_are_cut_to_a_length_that_can_be_drawn() {
+        let mut s = Session::default();
+        let t = s.add_track(TrackKind::Audio, ChannelFormat::Mono, None);
+        if let Some(tr) = s.track_mut(t) {
+            tr.name = "é".repeat(1_000);
+        }
+        s.comments = "c".repeat(10_000);
+        let back = Session::from_json(&s.to_json().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(back.track(t).map(|tr| tr.name.chars().count()), Some(MAX_NAME_CHARS));
+        assert_eq!(back.comments.len(), MAX_COMMENT_CHARS);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn a_bad_sample_rate_or_tempo_is_repaired_on_load() {
         let mut v = serde_json::to_value(Session::default()).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/edit_window.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/edit_window.rs
index f13bc78a..dc2453b5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/edit_window.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/edit_window.rs
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ fn status_bar(app: &mut SoundApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     let t = Tokens::current();
     let r = ui.max_rect();
     let s = app.engine.session();
-    let left = format!(
+    let mut left = format!(
         "{} · {} Hz · {} · {} tracks · {}",
         s.name,
         s.sample_rate.hz(),
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ fn status_bar(app: &mut SoundApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
         s.tracks.len(),
         app.ui.status
     );
+    soundcraft_model::truncate_chars(&mut left, 4 * soundcraft_model::MAX_NAME_CHARS);
     ui.painter().text(pos2(r.min.x + 10.0, r.center().y), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, left, regular(11.0), t.text_dim);
     let undo = app.engine.undo_label().map_or(String::new(), |l| format!("Undo {l}"));
     ui.painter().text(