diff --git a/hugvey/story.py b/hugvey/story.py
index 8870c78..a7183b8 100644
--- a/hugvey/story.py
+++ b/hugvey/story.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ class Message(object):
     def __init__(self, id, text):
         self.id = id
         self.text = text
+        self.label = None
         self.isStart = False
         self.isStrandStart = False
         self.chapterStart = False
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ class Message(object):
         msg.chapterStart = bool(data['chapterStart']) if 'chapterStart' in data else False
         msg.afterrunTime = data['afterrun'] if 'afterrun' in data else 0. # TODO: investigate deprecation?
         msg.color = data['color'] if 'color' in data else None
+        msg.label = data['label'] if 'label' in data else None
         if 'audio' in data and data['audio'] is not None:
             msg.audioFile = data['audio']['file']
         msg.setStory(story)
@@ -164,6 +166,14 @@ class Message(object):
             text = text.replace('$'+var, replacement)
         return text
 
+    def getLabel(self):
+        """
+        When a label is set, return that, else the original text
+        """
+        if self.label and len(self.label):
+          return self.label
+        return self.getText()
+
     def setReply(self, reply):
         self.reply = reply
 
@@ -1878,7 +1888,7 @@ class Story(object):
         if message.id != self.startMessage.id:
             self.addToLog(message)
             
-        self.hugvey.eventLogger.info(f"message: {message.id} {message.uuid} start \"{message.getText()}\"")
+        self.hugvey.eventLogger.info(f"message: {message.id} {message.uuid} start \"{message.getLabel()}\"")
 
         # TODO: prep events & timer etc.
         fn = await message.getAudioFilePath()