diff --git a/randpkt_core/randpkt_core.c b/randpkt_core/randpkt_core.c
index 628b941c23..b156fb9b67 100644
--- a/randpkt_core/randpkt_core.c
+++ b/randpkt_core/randpkt_core.c
@@ -593,6 +593,13 @@ void randpkt_loop(randpkt_example* example, guint64 produce_count)
 		}
 
 		len_this_pkt = example->sample_length + len_random;
+		if (len_this_pkt > WTAP_MAX_PACKET_SIZE_STANDARD) {
+			/*
+			 * Wiretap will fail when trying to read packets
+			 * bigger than WTAP_MAX_PACKET_SIZE_STANDARD.
+			 */
+			len_this_pkt = WTAP_MAX_PACKET_SIZE_STANDARD;
+		}
 
 		rec->rec_header.packet_header.caplen = len_this_pkt;
 		rec->rec_header.packet_header.len = len_this_pkt;