diff --git a/core/dbt/events/functions.py b/core/dbt/events/functions.py
index e749ae6b4a2..c2bbdc41819 100644
--- a/core/dbt/events/functions.py
+++ b/core/dbt/events/functions.py
@@ -82,7 +82,12 @@ def setup_event_logger(log_path, level_override=None):
 
     file_passthrough_formatter = logging.Formatter(fmt=FORMAT)
 
-    file_handler = RotatingFileHandler(filename=log_dest, encoding='utf8')
+    file_handler = RotatingFileHandler(
+        filename=log_dest,
+        encoding='utf8',
+        maxBytes=10 * 1024 * 1024,  # 10 mb
+        backupCount=5
+    )
     file_handler.setFormatter(file_passthrough_formatter)
     file_handler.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)  # always debug regardless of user input
     this.FILE_LOG.handlers.clear()