diff --git a/models/database.py b/models/database.py
index eee2db60687f30c93def96c8a0c46d464b97fcb6..a0d60abcf2d96b3ae72245cc61ca236c05aef6f5 100644
--- a/models/database.py
+++ b/models/database.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ class Protocol(DatabaseModel):
         if self.pad_identifier is None:
             identifier = self.get_identifier()
             if self.protocoltype.non_reproducible_pad_links:
-                identifier = "{}-{}".format(identifier, str(uuid4()))
+                identifier = "{}-{}".format(identifier, str(uuid4()).replace("-", ""))[:50]
             self.pad_identifier = identifier
             db.session.commit()
         return get_etherpad_url(self.pad_identifier)