diff --git a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/helper.ts b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/helper.ts
index 51f1bf61d2..ab59987a40 100644
--- a/packages/playwright-core/src/server/helper.ts
+++ b/packages/playwright-core/src/server/helper.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ import { debugLogger } from '../common/debugLogger';
 import type { RegisteredListener } from '../utils/eventsHelper';
 import { eventsHelper } from '../utils/eventsHelper';
 
+const MAX_LOG_LENGTH = process.env.MAX_LOG_LENGTH ? +process.env.MAX_LOG_LENGTH : Infinity;
+
 class Helper {
   static completeUserURL(urlString: string): string {
     if (urlString.startsWith('localhost') || urlString.startsWith('127.0.0.1'))
@@ -84,8 +86,12 @@ class Helper {
     return (direction: 'send' | 'receive', message: object) => {
       if (protocolLogger)
         protocolLogger(direction, message);
-      if (debugLogger.isEnabled('protocol'))
-        debugLogger.log('protocol', (direction === 'send' ? 'SEND ► ' : '◀ RECV ') + JSON.stringify(message));
+      if (debugLogger.isEnabled('protocol')) {
+        let text = JSON.stringify(message);
+        if (text.length > MAX_LOG_LENGTH)
+          text = text.substring(0, MAX_LOG_LENGTH / 2) + ' <<<<<( LOG TRUNCATED )>>>>> ' + text.substring(text.length - MAX_LOG_LENGTH / 2);
+        debugLogger.log('protocol', (direction === 'send' ? 'SEND ► ' : '◀ RECV ') + text);
+      }
     };
   }