diff --git a/mimic3_http/app.py b/mimic3_http/app.py
index d8bc6d4..ee4798a 100644
--- a/mimic3_http/app.py
+++ b/mimic3_http/app.py
@@ -153,7 +153,11 @@ def get_app(args: argparse.Namespace, request_queue: Queue, temp_dir: str):
     @app.route("/")
     async def app_index():
         """Main page."""
-        return await render_template("index.html", show_openapi=show_openapi)
+        return await render_template(
+            "index.html",
+            show_openapi=show_openapi,
+            max_text_length=args.max_text_length,
+        )
 
     @app.route("/api/tts", methods=["GET", "POST"])
     async def app_tts() -> Response:
@@ -206,6 +210,9 @@ def get_app(args: argparse.Namespace, request_queue: Queue, temp_dir: str):
 
         assert text, "No text provided"
 
+        if args.max_text_length is not None:
+            text = text[: args.max_text_length]
+
         # Cache settings
         no_cache_str = request.args.get("noCache", "")
         no_cache = _to_bool(no_cache_str)
@@ -237,6 +244,9 @@ def get_app(args: argparse.Namespace, request_queue: Queue, temp_dir: str):
             text = request.args.get("INPUT_TEXT", "")
             voice = str(request.args.get("VOICE", voice)).strip()
 
+        if args.max_text_length is not None:
+            text = text[: args.max_text_length]
+
         voice = voice or args.voice or DEFAULT_VOICE
 
         # Assume SSML if text begins with an angle bracket
diff --git a/mimic3_http/args.py b/mimic3_http/args.py
index e1e147b..7cf5e67 100644
--- a/mimic3_http/args.py
+++ b/mimic3_http/args.py
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ def get_args(argv=None) -> argparse.Namespace:
         default=1,
         help="Number of synthesis threads (default: 1)",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--max-text-length",
+        type=int,
+        help="Maximum length of input text to process (default: no limit)",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--debug", action="store_true", help="Print DEBUG messages to console"
     )
diff --git a/mimic3_http/templates/index.html b/mimic3_http/templates/index.html
index 2000bcd..4a186c3 100644
--- a/mimic3_http/templates/index.html
+++ b/mimic3_http/templates/index.html
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@
             </div>
             <div class="row mt-3">
                 <div class="col">
-                    <textarea id="text" placeholder="Type here..." class="form-control" rows="3" name="text" alt="Text to generate speech from" maxlength="5000"></textarea>
+                  <textarea id="text" placeholder="Type here..." class="form-control" rows="3" name="text" alt="Text to generate speech from"
+                            {% if max_text_length is not none: %}maxlength="{{ max_text_length }}"{% endif %}></textarea>
                 </div>
                 <div class="col-auto">
                     <button id="speak-button" name="speak" class="btn btn-lg btn-primary" alt="Generate speech">Speak</button>