diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/lock.py b/r2/r2/lib/lock.py
index dabf812b4..8b07b4180 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/lock.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/lock.py
@@ -24,10 +24,11 @@ from __future__ import with_statement
 from time import sleep
 from datetime import datetime
 from threading import local
-from traceback import format_stack
 import os
 import socket
 
+from r2.lib.utils import simple_traceback
+
 # thread-local storage for detection of recursive locks
 locks = local()
 
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ class MemcacheLock(object):
     def __enter__(self):
         start = datetime.now()
 
-        my_info = (reddit_host, reddit_pid, ''.join(format_stack()))
+        my_info = (reddit_host, reddit_pid, simple_traceback())
 
         #if this thread already has this lock, move on
         if self.key in self.locks:
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/utils/utils.py b/r2/r2/lib/utils/utils.py
index b9ba1a5f3..dd4daffe4 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/utils/utils.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/utils/utils.py
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
 # Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 ###############################################################################
 
+import os
 import base64
+import traceback
 
 from urllib import unquote_plus
 from urllib2 import urlopen
@@ -1426,3 +1428,15 @@ def parse_http_basic(authorization_header):
     except TypeError:
         raise RequirementException
     return require_split(auth_data, 2, ":")
+
+
+def simple_traceback():
+    """Generate a pared-down traceback that's human readable but small."""
+
+    stack_trace = traceback.extract_stack(limit=7)[:-2]
+    return "\n".join(":".join((os.path.basename(filename),
+                               function_name,
+                               str(line_number),
+                              ))
+                     for filename, line_number, function_name, text
+                     in stack_trace)