diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/generator/TextAreaGenerator.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/generator/TextAreaGenerator.java
index 2317a89385..22c68e1f2b 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/generator/TextAreaGenerator.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/web/bean/generator/TextAreaGenerator.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package org.alfresco.web.bean.generator;
 import javax.faces.component.UIComponent;
 import javax.faces.context.FacesContext;
 
+import org.alfresco.model.ContentModel;
 import org.alfresco.web.app.servlet.FacesHelper;
 import org.alfresco.web.ui.common.ComponentConstants;
 
@@ -77,6 +78,13 @@ public class TextAreaGenerator extends TextFieldGenerator
       component.getAttributes().put("rows", this.rows);
       component.getAttributes().put("cols", this.columns);
       
+      // MNT-10171 Exception thrown if Share metadata is longer than 1024 characters
+      if (ContentModel.PROP_DESCRIPTION.getLocalName().equals(id))
+      {
+          // add 'onfocus' event for adding 'maxlength' attribute
+          component.getAttributes().put("onfocus", "addMaxLengthForDescriptionTextArea(this)");
+      }
+      
       return component;
    }
 }
diff --git a/source/web/jsp/dialog/container.jsp b/source/web/jsp/dialog/container.jsp
index 0f98974376..f53a1b6e98 100644
--- a/source/web/jsp/dialog/container.jsp
+++ b/source/web/jsp/dialog/container.jsp
@@ -219,6 +219,14 @@ if (Application.getDialogManager().getState() == null)
        </tr>
     </table>
     
+<script type="text/javascript">
+   function addMaxLengthForDescriptionTextArea(el)
+   {
+      el.setAttribute("maxlength", "1024");
+      el.removeAttribute("onfocus");
+   }
+</script>
+
     </h:form>
     
 </f:view>