diff --git a/include/qtext.h b/include/qtext.h
index ccfbb1407..ac65fc6b3 100644
--- a/include/qtext.h
+++ b/include/qtext.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ struct	qthdr {
 #define TEXT_TRUNC	"Text record truncated at line %d\n"
 #define OUT_OF_HEADERS	"Too many message types (line %d)\nAdjust N_HDR in qtext.h and recompile.\n"
 #define OUT_OF_MESSAGES "Too many messages in class (line %d)\nAdjust N_MSG in qtext.h and recompile.\n"
+#define QLINE_TOO_LONG	"Line %d too long; truncated\n"
 
 
 #else	/***** !MAKEDEFS *****/
diff --git a/util/makedefs.c b/util/makedefs.c
index 92ee31db9..773b87ac0 100644
--- a/util/makedefs.c
+++ b/util/makedefs.c
@@ -2423,6 +2423,14 @@ do_questtxt()
         SpinCursor(3);
 
         qt_line++;
+        if (!index(in_line, '\n')) {
+            /* no newline; line is longer than QTEXT_IN_SIZ-1 */
+            int c;
+
+            Fprintf(stderr, QLINE_TOO_LONG, qt_line);
+            /* discard the rest of the current input line */
+            do { c = fgetc(ifp); } while (c != '\n' && c != EOF);
+        }
         if (qt_control(line))
             do_qt_control(line);
         else if (qt_comment(line))