diff --git a/parsers/survex.py b/parsers/survex.py
index fba17e069..7cd430d62 100644
--- a/parsers/survex.py
+++ b/parsers/survex.py
@@ -1229,7 +1229,7 @@ class LoadingSurvex:
             reftxt  = refline.groups()[0] # only one item in this tuple
             if reftxt: 
                 # only store it if not an empty string
-                survexblock.ref_text = reftxt
+                survexblock.ref_text = reftxt[:399] # truncate or MariaDB crashes on databaseReset !
                 survexblock.save()
             return