diff --git a/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py b/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py
index 85cfe20..0ee6d41 100644
--- a/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py
+++ b/src/dpy_logger/dpy_logger.py
@@ -161,10 +161,12 @@ class DPYLogger:
         return channel
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _cap_field(value: str) -> str:
-        """cap an embed field value to discord's 1024-char limit, truncating with an ellipsis"""
-        if len(value) > DISCORD_FIELD_VALUE_LIMIT:
-            return value[:DISCORD_FIELD_VALUE_LIMIT - 3] + "..."
+    def _cap_field(value: str, reserve: int = 0) -> str:
+        """cap a value to discord's 1024-char field limit (less `reserve` chars for any wrapping
+        the caller adds around it, e.g. backticks), truncating with an ellipsis"""
+        limit = DISCORD_FIELD_VALUE_LIMIT - reserve
+        if len(value) > limit:
+            return value[:limit - 3] + "..."
         return value
 
     def build_embed(self, level, action, actor, details):
@@ -178,11 +180,12 @@ class DPYLogger:
         if self._embed_builder is not None:
             return self._embed_builder(self, level, action, actor, details)
         em = discord.Embed(color=self.colors[level])
-        # discord 400s an empty or >1024-char field value; substitute + cap on every field
+        # discord 400s an empty or >1024-char field value; cap then wrap so the closing
+        # backtick is never truncated off (cap the inner value, accounting for the 2 backticks)
         if action is not None and str(action) != "":
-            em.add_field(name="Action", value=self._cap_field(f"`{action}`"), inline=True)
+            em.add_field(name="Action", value=f"`{self._cap_field(str(action), reserve=2)}`", inline=True)
         if actor is not None and str(actor) != "":
-            em.add_field(name="Actor", value=self._cap_field(f"`{actor}`"), inline=True)
+            em.add_field(name="Actor", value=f"`{self._cap_field(str(actor), reserve=2)}`", inline=True)
         log_value = str(details) if details is not None and str(details) != "" else "(no message)"
         em.add_field(name="Log", value=self._cap_field(log_value), inline=False)
         em.timestamp = datetime.now(self.timezone)