diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp
index 4a595435bca..c36c66a909c 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp
@@ -2761,15 +2761,19 @@ Handle java_lang_Throwable::create_initialization_error(JavaThread* current, Han
   assert(throwable.not_null(), "shouldn't be");
 
   // Now create the message from the original exception and thread name.
-  Symbol* message = java_lang_Throwable::detail_message(throwable());
   ResourceMark rm(current);
+  const char *message = nullptr;
+  oop detailed_message = java_lang_Throwable::message(throwable());
+  if (detailed_message != nullptr) {
+    message = java_lang_String::as_utf8_string(detailed_message);
+  }
   stringStream st;
   st.print("Exception %s%s ", throwable()->klass()->name()->as_klass_external_name(),
              message == nullptr ? "" : ":");
   if (message == nullptr) {
     st.print("[in thread \"%s\"]", current->name());
   } else {
-    st.print("%s [in thread \"%s\"]", message->as_C_string(), current->name());
+    st.print("%s [in thread \"%s\"]", message, current->name());
   }
 
   Symbol* exception_name = vmSymbols::java_lang_ExceptionInInitializerError();
diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/symbolTable.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/symbolTable.cpp
index 87d3939d3ea..1609238f25c 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/symbolTable.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/symbolTable.cpp
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ Symbol* SymbolTable::lookup_common(const char* name,
 }
 
 Symbol* SymbolTable::new_symbol(const char* name, int len) {
+  assert(len <= Symbol::max_length(), "sanity");
   unsigned int hash = hash_symbol(name, len, _alt_hash);
   Symbol* sym = lookup_common(name, len, hash);
   if (sym == nullptr) {
@@ -353,6 +354,7 @@ Symbol* SymbolTable::new_symbol(const Symbol* sym, int begin, int end) {
   assert(sym->refcount() != 0, "require a valid symbol");
   const char* name = (const char*)sym->base() + begin;
   int len = end - begin;
+  assert(len <= Symbol::max_length(), "sanity");
   unsigned int hash = hash_symbol(name, len, _alt_hash);
   Symbol* found = lookup_common(name, len, hash);
   if (found == nullptr) {
diff --git a/test/hotspot/jtreg/runtime/exceptionMsgs/LongExceptionMessageTest.java b/test/hotspot/jtreg/runtime/exceptionMsgs/LongExceptionMessageTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..24342a4ccf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/hotspot/jtreg/runtime/exceptionMsgs/LongExceptionMessageTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2023, Google and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
+ *
+ * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
+ * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
+ * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
+ *
+ * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+ * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
+ * accompanied this code).
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
+ * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ *
+ * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
+ * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
+ * questions.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @test
+ * @summary Test to verify throwing an exception with extra long message does
+ *          not cause hang.
+ * @bug 8312401
+ * @run main/othervm LongExceptionMessageTest
+ */
+
+class ClassWithLongExceptionMessage {
+  static {
+    if (true) throw new AssertionError("lorem ipsum ".repeat(16000));
+  }
+}
+
+public class LongExceptionMessageTest {
+  public static void main(String[] args) {
+    try {
+      new ClassWithLongExceptionMessage();
+    } catch(Throwable t) {}
+  }
+}
+