diff --git a/artiq/gui/tools.py b/artiq/gui/tools.py
index 536790549..f388521d8 100644
--- a/artiq/gui/tools.py
+++ b/artiq/gui/tools.py
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ def short_format(v):
     t = type(v)
     if t is int or t is float:
         return str(v)
+    elif t is str:
+        if len(v) < 15:
+            return "\"" + v + "\""
+        else:
+            return "\"" + v[:12] + "\"..."
     else:
         r = t.__name__
         if t is list or t is dict or t is set: