diff --git a/dr_botzo/markov/lib.py b/dr_botzo/markov/lib.py
index 12b794a..e75c8da 100644
--- a/dr_botzo/markov/lib.py
+++ b/dr_botzo/markov/lib.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def generate_line(context, topics=None, min_words=15, max_words=30, max_sentence
     return line
 
 
-def generate_longish_sentence(context, topics=None, min_words=15, max_words=30, max_tries=5):
+def generate_longish_sentence(context, topics=None, min_words=15, max_words=30, max_tries=100):
     """Generate a Markov chain, but throw away the short ones unless we get desperate."""
 
     sent = ""
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ def generate_sentence(context, topics=None, min_words=15, max_words=30):
     words = [word for word in words if word not in
              (MarkovState._start1, MarkovState._start2, MarkovState._stop)]
 
+    # if what we found is too long, abandon it, sadly
+    if len(words) > max_words:
+        log.debug("%s is too long, i'm going to give up on it", words)
+        words.clear()
+
     return words