diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py
index 01a27e9c..7dbde949 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/process_instance_processor.py
@@ -829,7 +829,7 @@ class ProcessInstanceProcessor:
                         process_instance_id=self.process_instance_model.id,
                         key=key,
                     )
-                pim.value = data_for_key
+                pim.value = str(data_for_key)[0:255]
                 db.session.add(pim)
                 db.session.commit()
 
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/data/nested-task-data-structure/nested-task-data-structure.bpmn b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/data/nested-task-data-structure/nested-task-data-structure.bpmn
index 7452216a..36acf7ab 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/data/nested-task-data-structure/nested-task-data-structure.bpmn
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/data/nested-task-data-structure/nested-task-data-structure.bpmn
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ outer['time'] = time.time_ns()</bpmn:script>
     <bpmn:scriptTask id="Activity_1bvyv67" name="First setting of data">
       <bpmn:incoming>Flow_18gs4jt</bpmn:incoming>
       <bpmn:outgoing>Flow_1flxgry</bpmn:outgoing>
-      <bpmn:script>outer["inner"] = 'sweet2'</bpmn:script>
+      <bpmn:script>outer["inner"] = 'sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2sweet2END_THIS_WILL_TRUNCATE_HERE'</bpmn:script>
     </bpmn:scriptTask>
   </bpmn:process>
   <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_1">
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_model.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_model.py
index 22f92111..40a9c96e 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_model.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/tests/spiffworkflow_backend/unit/test_process_model.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 """Process Model."""
+import re
+
 from flask.app import Flask
 from flask.testing import FlaskClient
 from tests.spiffworkflow_backend.helpers.base_test import BaseTest
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ class TestProcessModel(BaseTest):
 
     def test_initializes_files_as_empty_array(self) -> None:
         """Test_initializes_files_as_empty_array."""
-        process_model_one = self.create_test_process_model(id="model_one", display_name="Model One")
+        process_model_one = self._create_test_process_model(id="model_one", display_name="Model One")
         assert process_model_one.files == []
 
     def test_can_run_process_model_with_call_activities_when_in_same_process_model_directory(
@@ -130,14 +132,17 @@ class TestProcessModel(BaseTest):
             process_instance_id=process_instance.id, key="awesome_var"
         ).first()
         assert process_instance_metadata_awesome_var is not None
-        assert process_instance_metadata_awesome_var.value == "sweet2"
+
+        # notion 160: ensure that we truncate long values to 255 characters
+        assert re.match(r"^sweet2.*END$", process_instance_metadata_awesome_var.value)
+        assert len(process_instance_metadata_awesome_var.value) == 255
         process_instance_metadata_awesome_var = ProcessInstanceMetadataModel.query.filter_by(
             process_instance_id=process_instance.id, key="invoice_number"
         ).first()
         assert process_instance_metadata_awesome_var is not None
         assert process_instance_metadata_awesome_var.value == "123"
 
-    def create_test_process_model(self, id: str, display_name: str) -> ProcessModelInfo:
+    def _create_test_process_model(self, id: str, display_name: str) -> ProcessModelInfo:
         """Create_test_process_model."""
         return ProcessModelInfo(
             id=id,