diff --git a/tests/test_logger.py b/tests/test_logger.py
index 9c7eb685..5a9b8e31 100644
--- a/tests/test_logger.py
+++ b/tests/test_logger.py
@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
 import logging
+import logbook
 import uuid
+import zmq
+
+from zipline import ndict
 
 from zipline.utils.logger import configure_logging, tail
+from zipline.utils.log_utils import ZeroMQLogHandler
+
+from zipline.utils.test_utils import create_receiver, drain_receiver
+
 from unittest2 import TestCase
 
 
@@ -20,3 +28,35 @@ class LoggerTestCase(TestCase):
             last_line = tail(logfile, window=1)
             logged_msg = last_line.split(" - ")[1]
             self.assertEqual(test_msg, logged_msg)
+
+
+    def test_zmq_handler(self):
+        socket_addr = 'tcp://127.0.0.1:10000'
+        ctx = zmq.Context()
+        socket_push = ctx.socket(zmq.PUSH)
+        socket_push.connect(socket_addr)
+        recv = create_receiver(socket_addr, ctx)
+        zmq_out = ZeroMQLogHandler(
+            socket = socket_push,
+            filter = lambda r, h: r.channel in ['test zmq logger'],
+            context=ctx,
+            #bubble=False
+        )
+
+        log = logbook.Logger('test zmq logger')
+        x = ndict({})
+        x.a = 1
+        ex = example(133)
+        with zmq_out.threadbound():
+            log.info(ex.num)
+
+
+        output, _ = drain_receiver(recv, count=1)
+        self.assertEqual(output[-1]['prefix'], 'LOG')
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(output[-1]['payload']['msg'], basestring))
+
+
+class example(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, num):
+        self.num = num
diff --git a/zipline/protocol.py b/zipline/protocol.py
index a2cf50c3..f9c1326b 100644
--- a/zipline/protocol.py
+++ b/zipline/protocol.py
@@ -437,8 +437,8 @@ def TRADE_FRAME(event):
         event.sid,
         event.price,
         event.open,
-        event.close, 
-        event.high, 
+        event.close,
+        event.high,
         event.low,
         event.volume,
         event.dt,
@@ -665,11 +665,11 @@ def tuple_to_date(date_tuple):
     return dt
 
 # Datasource type should completely determine the other fields of a
-# message with its type.                      
+# message with its type.
 DATASOURCE_TYPE = Enum(
-    'AS_TRADED_EQUITY', 
+    'AS_TRADED_EQUITY',
     'MERGER',
-    'SPLIT', 
+    'SPLIT',
     'DIVIDEND',
     'TRADE',
     'EMPTY',
@@ -736,6 +736,9 @@ def LOG_FRAME(payload):
     assert payload.has_key('msg'),\
         "LOG_FRAME with no message"
 
+    # truncation will only work with strings and msgpack will
+    # preserve primitives.
+    payload['msg'] = str(payload['msg'])
 
     return BT_UPDATE_FRAME('LOG', payload)
 
diff --git a/zipline/utils/log_utils.py b/zipline/utils/log_utils.py
index f9fbc57c..ea1abf18 100644
--- a/zipline/utils/log_utils.py
+++ b/zipline/utils/log_utils.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ class ZeroMQLogHandler(Handler):
     def __init__(self, socket=None, level=NOTSET, filter=None, bubble=False,
                  context=None, fds = LOG_FIELDS, extra_fds = LOG_EXTRA_FIELDS):
         Handler.__init__(self, level, filter, bubble)
+
         try:
             import zmq
         except ImportError:
diff --git a/zipline/utils/test_utils.py b/zipline/utils/test_utils.py
index 3a9858a3..2ebbae73 100644
--- a/zipline/utils/test_utils.py
+++ b/zipline/utils/test_utils.py
@@ -91,11 +91,13 @@ def create_receiver(socket_addr, ctx):
 
     return receiver
 
-def drain_receiver(receiver):
+def drain_receiver(receiver, count=None):
     output = []
     transaction_count  = 0
+    msg_counter = 0
     while True:
         msg = receiver.recv()
+        msg_counter += 1
         update = zp.BT_UPDATE_UNFRAME(msg)
         output.append(update)
         if update['prefix'] == 'PERF':
@@ -106,6 +108,9 @@ def drain_receiver(receiver):
         elif update['prefix'] == 'DONE':
             break
 
+        if count and msg_counter >= count:
+            break
+
     receiver.close()
     del receiver