diff --git a/new-topic.sh b/new-topic.sh
index 7f89ef2af..9380d158b 100644
--- a/new-topic.sh
+++ b/new-topic.sh
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ if [[ -z ${utils_loaded+x} ]]; then echo "Could not load utilities"; exit 1; fi
 
 check_util_deps uuidgen
 
-INCLUDEDIR="$2/doc/source/_includes"
-
+declare INCLUDEDIR="$2/doc/source/_includes"
 declare -A charReplacements
+# max basename lenght *before* appending UUID
+declare MAX_LEN=62
+
 
 charReplacements=(
    ["-"]="minus"
@@ -123,6 +125,12 @@ do
   filename=`sed "s/$c/${charReplacements[$c]}/g" <<< $filename`
 done
 
+if [[ ${#filename} -gt ${MAX_LEN} ]]; then
+   filename=${filename:0:$MAX_LEN}
+   declare FULL_LEN=$(($MAX_LEN + 13))
+   echo -e "\nFilename and label shortend to $FULL_LEN chars"
+fi
+
 filename="${filename//[^[:alnum:]]/-}"
 filename=$(echo $filename | tr -s -)
 filename="${filename}-${myuuid}"