diff --git a/pysnooper/tracer.py b/pysnooper/tracer.py
index 3bfab35..e0cb0aa 100644
--- a/pysnooper/tracer.py
+++ b/pysnooper/tracer.py
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import re
 import collections
 import datetime as datetime_module
 import itertools
+try:
+    import repr as reprlib
+except ImportError:
+    import reprlib
 
 from .third_party import six
 
@@ -15,7 +19,7 @@ ipython_filename_pattern = re.compile('^<ipython-input-([0-9]+)-.*>$')
 
 def get_shortish_repr(item):
     try:
-        r = repr(item)
+        r = reprlib.repr(item)
     except Exception:
         r = 'REPR FAILED'
     r = r.replace('\r', '').replace('\n', '')