diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
index 07e17159dc..6ba9c655d8 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/mixer_strip.cc
@@ -1125,9 +1125,14 @@ MixerStrip::route_group_changed (void *ignored)
 	ENSURE_GUI_THREAD(bind (mem_fun(*this, &MixerStrip::route_group_changed), ignored));
 	
 	RouteGroup *rg = _route->route_group();
-	
+
 	if (rg) {
-		group_label.set_text (rg->name());
+		/* XXX: this needs a better algorithm */
+		string truncated = rg->name ();
+		if (truncated.length () > 5) {
+			truncated = truncated.substr (0, 5);
+		}
+		group_label.set_text (truncated);
 	} else {
 		switch (_width) {
 		case Wide: