diff --git a/src/dialogs.py b/src/dialogs.py
index 8b071cbdf..b791b338b 100644
--- a/src/dialogs.py
+++ b/src/dialogs.py
@@ -622,17 +622,12 @@ class StatusTable:
 			if status != '':
 				if gtk.gtk_version < (2, 6, 0) or gtk.pygtk_version < (2, 6, 0):
 					# FIXME: check and do the same if we have more than one \n 
-					status = self.strip_text(status, 50)
+					status = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(status, 50, 1)
+				else:
+					status = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(status, 0, 1)
 				str_status += ' - ' + status
 		return gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(str_status)
 	
-	# fix "too long status make the tooltip large than the screen" problem
-	def strip_text(self, text, max_length):
-		text = text.strip()
-		if len(text) > max_length:
-				text = text[:max_length - 3] + '...'
-		return text
-	
 	def add_status_row(self, file_path, show, str_status):
 		''' appends a new row with status icon to the table '''
 		self.current_row += 1
@@ -706,14 +701,17 @@ class NotificationAreaTooltip(BaseTooltip, StatusTable):
 				iconset = 'sun'
 			file_path = os.path.join(gajim.DATA_DIR, 'iconsets', iconset, '16x16')
 			for acct in accounts:
-				mesage = gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(acct['message'])
-				mesage = self.strip_text(mesage, 50)
+				message = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(acct['message'], 50, 1)
+				message = gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(message)
 				self.add_status_row(file_path, acct['show'], '<span weight="bold">' + 
 					gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(acct['name']) + '</span>' 
-					+ ' - ' + mesage)
+					+ ' - ' + message)
 					
 		elif len(accounts) == 1:
-			text = _('Gajim - %s') % accounts[0]['status_line']
+			message = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(accounts[0]['status_line'], 
+				50, 1)
+			message = gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(message)
+			text = _('Gajim - %s') % message
 		else:
 			text = _('Gajim - %s') % helpers.get_uf_show('offline')
 		self.text_lable.set_markup(text)
diff --git a/src/groupchat_window.py b/src/groupchat_window.py
index b7d8e9a73..1a665b16b 100644
--- a/src/groupchat_window.py
+++ b/src/groupchat_window.py
@@ -388,15 +388,9 @@ class GroupchatWindow(chat.Chat):
 		full_subject = None
 
 		if gtk.gtk_version < (2, 6, 0) or gtk.pygtk_version < (2, 6, 0):
-			# long subject makes window bigger than the screen
-			def _cut_if_long(str):
-				if len(str) > 80:
-					str = str[:77] + '...'
-				return str
-			if len(subject) > 80:
-				subjects = map(lambda e: _cut_if_long(e), subject.split('\n'))
-				subject = reduce(lambda e, e1: e + '\n' + e1, subjects)
-				
+			subject = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(subject, 80, 2)
+		else:
+			subject = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(subject, 0, 2)
 		subject = gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(subject)
 		name_label.set_markup(
 		'<span weight="heavy" size="x-large">%s</span>\n%s' % (room_jid, subject))
diff --git a/src/gtkgui_helpers.py b/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
index 022d5b6d6..e43fe9fba 100644
--- a/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
+++ b/src/gtkgui_helpers.py
@@ -28,7 +28,34 @@ i18n.init()
 _ = i18n._
 from common import gajim
 
-
+def reduce_chars_newlines(text, max_chars = 0, max_lines = 0, 
+	widget = None):
+	''' Cut the chars after 'max_chars' on each line
+	and show only the first 'max_lines'. If there is more text
+	to be shown, display the whole text in tooltip on 'widget'
+	If any of the params is not present(None or 0) the action
+	on it is not performed
+	'''
+	def _cut_if_long(str):
+		if len(str) > max_chars:
+			str = str[:max_chars - 3] + '...'
+		return str
+	
+	if max_lines == 0:
+		lines = text.split('\n')
+	else:
+		lines = text.split('\n', max_lines)[:max_lines]
+	if max_chars > 0:
+		if lines:
+			lines = map(lambda e: _cut_if_long(e), lines)
+	if lines:
+		reduced_text = reduce(lambda e, e1: e + '\n' + e1, lines)
+	else:
+		reduced_text = ''
+	if reduced_text != text and widget is not None:
+		pass # FIXME show tooltip
+	return reduced_text
+	
 def convert_bytes(string):
 	suffix = ''
 	bytes = int(string)
diff --git a/src/tabbed_chat_window.py b/src/tabbed_chat_window.py
index a1cde62f4..a79be5ada 100644
--- a/src/tabbed_chat_window.py
+++ b/src/tabbed_chat_window.py
@@ -133,16 +133,11 @@ class TabbedChatWindow(chat.Chat):
 		#FIXME: when gtk2.4 is OOOOLD do it via glade2.10+  
 		if gtk.pygtk_version >= (2, 6, 0) and gtk.gtk_version >= (2, 6, 0):
 			banner_name_label.set_ellipsize(pango.ELLIPSIZE_END)
+			status = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(status, 0, 2)
 		#FIXME: remove me when gtk24 is OLD
-		elif status is not None and len(status) > 50:
-			def _cut_if_long(str):
-				if len(str) > 50:
-					str = str[:47] + '...'
-				return str
-			if len(status) > 50:
-				status = map(lambda e: _cut_if_long(e), status.split('\n'))
-				status = reduce(lambda e, e1: e + '\n' + e1, status)
-				
+		elif status is not None:
+			status = gtkgui_helpers.reduce_chars_newlines(status, 50, 2)
+
 		status = gtkgui_helpers.escape_for_pango_markup(status)
 
 		#FIXME: uncomment me when we support sending messages to specific resource