diff --git a/source/util/log.cpp b/source/util/log.cpp
index 9db0dc35..72a89fdc 100644
--- a/source/util/log.cpp
+++ b/source/util/log.cpp
@@ -25,10 +25,47 @@ std::filesystem::path logPath;
 
 std::mutex lock;
 
+void trim(const unsigned int count)
+{
+    /* a poorman's circular buffer that keeps the last 'count' log lines. */
+    std::vector<std::string> v(count);
+
+    std::ifstream input(logPath);
+    std::size_t index = 0;
+    std::string s;
+    while (std::getline(input, s)) {
+        v[index % count] = s;
+	index++;
+    }
+
+    input.close();
+
+    // required because of len/cap discrepancy in vector used as a circular
+    // buffer.
+    const auto upto = count < index ? index : count;
+
+    std::ofstream output(logPath, std::ios_base::out);
+    if (output.good()) {
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < upto; ++i)
+            output << v[(index + i) % count] << std::endl;
+    } else {
+        std::cerr << "could not open log file for trimming" << std::endl;
+    }
+    output.close();
+}
+
 void init(enum Level lvl, std::filesystem::path lp)
 {
     FilterLevel = lvl;
     logPath = lp;
+
+    // keep only the last X lines
+    trim(1000);
+
+    if (!logFile) {
+        const auto mode = std::ios_base::out | std::ios_base::app;
+        logFile = std::ofstream(logPath, mode);
+    }
 }
 
 std::string all()
diff --git a/source/util/log.h b/source/util/log.h
index 91e7af1d..0c65aa4a 100644
--- a/source/util/log.h
+++ b/source/util/log.h
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <optional>
-#include <vector>
 #include <mutex>
+#include <vector>
 
 /* TODO: fmtlib: replace with std, when all compilers support `format'. */
 #include <fmt/core.h>
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ void init(enum Level lvl, std::filesystem::path logPath);
  */
 std::string all();
 
+
 template <typename... Args>
 void backend(enum Level level, std::string_view fmt, Args&&... args)
 {
@@ -94,11 +95,6 @@ void backend(enum Level level, std::string_view fmt, Args&&... args)
         << fmt::vformat(fmt, fmt::make_format_args(args...))
         << std::endl;
 
-    if (!logFile) {
-        const auto mode = std::ios_base::out | std::ios_base::app;
-        logFile = std::ofstream(logPath, mode);
-    }
-
     if (logFile.value().good()) {
         logFile.value()
             << timestamp_now_str_fn() << ": "