diff --git a/mikey_nodes.py b/mikey_nodes.py
index 341d63f..da5165b 100644
--- a/mikey_nodes.py
+++ b/mikey_nodes.py
@@ -5113,6 +5113,8 @@ class TextPadderMikey:
     CATEGORY = 'Mikey/Text'
 
     def pad_text(self, text, length, technique, padding_character):
+        if len(text) >= length:
+            return (text,)
         if technique == 'pad':
             padded_text = text.ljust(length, padding_character)
         elif technique == 'repeat':