diff --git a/Lib/pdb.py b/Lib/pdb.py
index 2a8a9e3fd56..4b0516d28ae 100755
--- a/Lib/pdb.py
+++ b/Lib/pdb.py
@@ -8,10 +8,16 @@
 import linecache
 import cmd
 import bdb
-from repr import repr as _saferepr
+from repr import Repr
 import os
 import re
 
+# Create a custom safe Repr instance and increase its maxstring.
+# The default of 30 truncates error messages too easily.
+_repr = Repr()
+_repr.maxstring = 200
+_saferepr = _repr.repr
+
 __all__ = ["run", "pm", "Pdb", "runeval", "runctx", "runcall", "set_trace",
            "post_mortem", "help"]