diff --git a/mdadm.8.in b/mdadm.8.in
index 28d773c..68e100c 100644
--- a/mdadm.8.in
+++ b/mdadm.8.in
@@ -2186,6 +2186,11 @@ is run, but will be created by
 .I udev
 once the array becomes active.
 
+The max length md-device name is limited to 32 characters.
+Different metadata types have more strict limitation
+(like IMSM where only 16 characters are allowed).
+For that reason, long name could be truncated or rejected, it depends on metadata policy.
+
 As devices are added, they are checked to see if they contain RAID
 superblocks or filesystems.  They are also checked to see if the variance in
 device size exceeds 1%.
diff --git a/mdadm.c b/mdadm.c
index 91e6746..26299b2 100644
--- a/mdadm.c
+++ b/mdadm.c
@@ -1359,9 +1359,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			mdfd = open_mddev(devlist->devname, 1);
 			if (mdfd < 0)
 				exit(1);
-		} else
+		} else {
+			char *bname = basename(devlist->devname);
+
+			if (strlen(bname) > MD_NAME_MAX) {
+				pr_err("Name %s is too long.\n", devlist->devname);
+				exit(1);
+			}
 			/* non-existent device is OK */
 			mdfd = open_mddev(devlist->devname, 0);
+		}
 		if (mdfd == -2) {
 			pr_err("device %s exists but is not an md array.\n", devlist->devname);
 			exit(1);
diff --git a/mdadm.h b/mdadm.h
index 5456739..c7268a7 100644
--- a/mdadm.h
+++ b/mdadm.h
@@ -1880,3 +1880,8 @@ enum r0layout {
 #define INVALID_SECTORS 1
 /* And another special number needed for --data_offset=variable */
 #define VARIABLE_OFFSET 3
+
+/**
+ * This is true for native and DDF, IMSM allows 16.
+ */
+#define MD_NAME_MAX 32