diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index b8c7e593..260bb289 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -4015,6 +4015,10 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().pp = function(j$) {
       } else {
         this.emitScalar(value.toString());
       }
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (this.ppNestLevel_ > 1 || !(e instanceof MaxCharsReachedError)) {
+        throw e;
+      }
     } finally {
       this.ppNestLevel_--;
     }
@@ -4194,22 +4198,31 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().pp = function(j$) {
   };
 
   StringPrettyPrinter.prototype.append = function(value) {
-    if (this.length < j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS) {
-      value = truncate(value, j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS - this.length);
-      this.length += value.length;
-      this.stringParts.push(value);
+    var result = truncate(value, j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS - this.length);
+    this.length += result.value.length;
+    this.stringParts.push(result.value);
+
+    if (result.truncated) {
+      throw new MaxCharsReachedError();
     }
   };
 
   function truncate(s, maxlen) {
     if (s.length <= maxlen) {
-      return s;
+      return { value: s, truncated: false };
     }
 
-    s = s.substring(0, maxlen - 4);
-    return s +  ' ...';
+    s = s.substring(0, maxlen - 4) + ' ...';
+    return { value: s, truncated: true };
   }
 
+  function MaxCharsReachedError() {
+    this.message = 'Exceeded ' + j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS +
+      ' characters while pretty-printing a value';
+  }
+
+  MaxCharsReachedError.prototype = new Error();
+
   function keys(obj, isArray) {
     var allKeys = Object.keys ? Object.keys(obj) :
       (function(o) {
diff --git a/spec/core/PrettyPrintSpec.js b/spec/core/PrettyPrintSpec.js
index 745a5619..65578260 100644
--- a/spec/core/PrettyPrintSpec.js
+++ b/spec/core/PrettyPrintSpec.js
@@ -131,19 +131,39 @@ describe("jasmineUnderTest.pp", function () {
       }
   });
 
-  it("should truncate outputs that are too long", function() {
+  function withMaxChars(maxChars, fn) {
     var originalMaxChars = jasmineUnderTest.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS;
+
+    try {
+      jasmineUnderTest.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS = maxChars;
+      fn();
+    } finally {
+      jasmineUnderTest.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS = originalMaxChars;
+    }
+  }
+
+  it("should truncate outputs that are too long", function() {
     var big = [
       { a: 1, b: "a long string" },
       {}
     ];
 
-    try {
-      jasmineUnderTest.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS = 34;
+    withMaxChars(34, function() {
       expect(jasmineUnderTest.pp(big)).toEqual("[ Object({ a: 1, b: 'a long st ...");
-    } finally {
-      jasmineUnderTest.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS = originalMaxChars;
-    }
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("should not serialize more objects after hitting MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS", function() {
+    var a = { jasmineToString: function() { return 'object a'; } },
+      b = { jasmineToString: function() { return 'object b'; } },
+      c = { jasmineToString: jasmine.createSpy('c jasmineToString').and.returnValue('') },
+      d = { jasmineToString: jasmine.createSpy('d jasmineToString').and.returnValue('') };
+
+    withMaxChars(30, function() {
+      jasmineUnderTest.pp([{a: a, b: b, c: c}, d]);
+      expect(c.jasmineToString).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(d.jasmineToString).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
   });
 
   it("should print 'null' as the constructor of an object with its own constructor property", function() {
diff --git a/src/core/PrettyPrinter.js b/src/core/PrettyPrinter.js
index 04f85078..0685fa24 100644
--- a/src/core/PrettyPrinter.js
+++ b/src/core/PrettyPrinter.js
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().pp = function(j$) {
       } else {
         this.emitScalar(value.toString());
       }
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (this.ppNestLevel_ > 1 || !(e instanceof MaxCharsReachedError)) {
+        throw e;
+      }
     } finally {
       this.ppNestLevel_--;
     }
@@ -236,22 +240,31 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().pp = function(j$) {
   };
 
   StringPrettyPrinter.prototype.append = function(value) {
-    if (this.length < j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS) {
-      value = truncate(value, j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS - this.length);
-      this.length += value.length;
-      this.stringParts.push(value);
+    var result = truncate(value, j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS - this.length);
+    this.length += result.value.length;
+    this.stringParts.push(result.value);
+
+    if (result.truncated) {
+      throw new MaxCharsReachedError();
     }
   };
 
   function truncate(s, maxlen) {
     if (s.length <= maxlen) {
-      return s;
+      return { value: s, truncated: false };
     }
 
-    s = s.substring(0, maxlen - 4);
-    return s +  ' ...';
+    s = s.substring(0, maxlen - 4) + ' ...';
+    return { value: s, truncated: true };
   }
 
+  function MaxCharsReachedError() {
+    this.message = 'Exceeded ' + j$.MAX_PRETTY_PRINT_CHARS +
+      ' characters while pretty-printing a value';
+  }
+
+  MaxCharsReachedError.prototype = new Error();
+
   function keys(obj, isArray) {
     var allKeys = Object.keys ? Object.keys(obj) :
       (function(o) {