diff --git a/config.template.yaml b/config.template.yaml
index 03c307fa..3652ddd4 100644
--- a/config.template.yaml
+++ b/config.template.yaml
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ max-channels-per-user: 5
 max-accounts-per-ip: 5
 # Minimum number of seconds between guest logins from the same IP
 guest-login-delay: 60
-# Maximum character length of a chat message
+# Maximum character length of a chat message, capped at 1000 characters
 max-chat-message-length: 320
 
 # Allows you to customize the path divider. The /r/ in http://localhost/r/yourchannel
diff --git a/src/config.js b/src/config.js
index 1fe888d0..dd6b32aa 100644
--- a/src/config.js
+++ b/src/config.js
@@ -428,6 +428,11 @@ function preprocessConfig(cfg) {
         cfg['channel-storage'] = { type: undefined };
     }
 
+    if (cfg["max-chat-message-length"] > 1000) {
+        LOGGER.warn("Max chat message length was greater than 1000. Setting to 1000.");
+        cfg["max-chat-message-length"] = 1000;
+    }
+
     return cfg;
 }