diff --git a/redbot/cogs/mod/kickban.py b/redbot/cogs/mod/kickban.py
index 64550a448..3a52dd691 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/mod/kickban.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/mod/kickban.py
@@ -173,9 +173,8 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
 
             ban_type = "hackban"
 
-        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
 
-        queue_entry = (guild.id, user.id)
         if removed_temp:
             log.info(
                 "{}({}) upgraded the tempban for {} to a permaban.".format(
@@ -199,7 +198,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
                 return False, _("I'm not allowed to do that.")
             except discord.NotFound:
                 return False, _("User with ID {user_id} not found").format(user_id=user.id)
-            except Exception as e:
+            except Exception:
                 log.exception(
                     "{}({}) attempted to {} {}({}), but an error occurred.".format(
                         author.name, author.id, ban_type, username, user.id
@@ -238,7 +237,6 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
                             timezone.utc,
                         )
                         if datetime.now(timezone.utc) > unban_time:  # Time to unban the user
-                            queue_entry = (guild.id, uid)
                             try:
                                 await guild.unban(
                                     discord.Object(id=uid), reason=_("Tempban finished")
@@ -292,7 +290,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
         elif ctx.guild.me.top_role <= user.top_role or user == ctx.guild.owner:
             await ctx.send(_("I cannot do that due to Discord hierarchy rules."))
             return
-        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
         toggle = await self.config.guild(guild).dm_on_kickban()
         if toggle:
             with contextlib.suppress(discord.HTTPException):
@@ -310,7 +308,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
             log.info("{}({}) kicked {}({})".format(author.name, author.id, user.name, user.id))
         except discord.errors.Forbidden:
             await ctx.send(_("I'm not allowed to do that."))
-        except Exception as e:
+        except Exception:
             log.exception(
                 "{}({}) attempted to kick {}({}), but an error occurred.".format(
                     author.name, author.id, user.name, user.id
@@ -349,7 +347,6 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
         If days is not a number, it's treated as the first word of the reason.
 
         Minimum 0 days, maximum 7. If not specified, defaultdays setting will be used instead."""
-        author = ctx.author
         guild = ctx.guild
         if days is None:
             days = await self.config.guild(guild).default_days()
@@ -485,8 +482,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
 
         for user_id in user_ids:
             user = discord.Object(id=user_id)
-            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
-            queue_entry = (guild.id, user_id)
+            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
             async with self.config.guild(guild).current_tempbans() as tempbans:
                 if user_id in tempbans:
                     tempbans.remove(user_id)
@@ -576,7 +572,6 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
         if invite is None:
             invite = ""
 
-        queue_entry = (guild.id, user.id)
         await self.config.member(user).banned_until.set(unban_time.timestamp())
         async with self.config.guild(guild).current_tempbans() as current_tempbans:
             current_tempbans.append(user.id)
@@ -591,8 +586,11 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
                     invite_link=invite
                 )
             await user.send(msg)
+
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
+
         try:
-            await guild.ban(user, reason=reason, delete_message_days=days)
+            await guild.ban(user, reason=audit_reason, delete_message_days=days)
         except discord.Forbidden:
             await ctx.send(_("I can't do that for some reason."))
         except discord.HTTPException:
@@ -636,13 +634,12 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
             )
             return
 
-        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
 
         invite = await self.get_invite_for_reinvite(ctx)
         if invite is None:
             invite = ""
 
-        queue_entry = (guild.id, user.id)
         try:  # We don't want blocked DMs preventing us from banning
             msg = await user.send(
                 _(
@@ -660,7 +657,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
             if msg is not None:
                 await msg.delete()
             return
-        except discord.HTTPException as e:
+        except discord.HTTPException:
             log.exception(
                 "{}({}) attempted to softban {}({}), but an error occurred trying to ban them.".format(
                     author.name, author.id, user.name, user.id
@@ -669,7 +666,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
             return
         try:
             await guild.unban(user)
-        except discord.HTTPException as e:
+        except discord.HTTPException:
             log.exception(
                 "{}({}) attempted to softban {}({}), but an error occurred trying to unban them.".format(
                     author.name, author.id, user.name, user.id
@@ -755,7 +752,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
             return
         needs_unmute = True if user_voice_state.mute else False
         needs_undeafen = True if user_voice_state.deaf else False
-        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(ctx.author, reason)
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(ctx.author, reason, shorten=True)
         if needs_unmute and needs_undeafen:
             await user.edit(mute=False, deafen=False, reason=audit_reason)
         elif needs_unmute:
@@ -796,7 +793,7 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
             return
         needs_mute = True if user_voice_state.mute is False else False
         needs_deafen = True if user_voice_state.deaf is False else False
-        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(ctx.author, reason)
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(ctx.author, reason, shorten=True)
         author = ctx.author
         guild = ctx.guild
         if needs_mute and needs_deafen:
@@ -835,14 +832,13 @@ class KickBanMixin(MixinMeta):
         click the user and select 'Copy ID'."""
         guild = ctx.guild
         author = ctx.author
-        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(ctx.author, reason)
+        audit_reason = get_audit_reason(ctx.author, reason, shorten=True)
         bans = await guild.bans()
         bans = [be.user for be in bans]
         user = discord.utils.get(bans, id=user_id)
         if not user:
             await ctx.send(_("It seems that user isn't banned!"))
             return
-        queue_entry = (guild.id, user_id)
         try:
             await guild.unban(user, reason=audit_reason)
         except discord.HTTPException:
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/mutes/mutes.py b/redbot/cogs/mutes/mutes.py
index b4c02e22a..ef1ae088e 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/mutes/mutes.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/mutes/mutes.py
@@ -978,7 +978,7 @@ class Mutes(VoiceMutes, commands.Cog, metaclass=CompositeMetaClass):
                     )
             author = ctx.message.author
             guild = ctx.guild
-            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
             success_list = []
             issue_list = []
             for user in users:
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ class Mutes(VoiceMutes, commands.Cog, metaclass=CompositeMetaClass):
             author = ctx.message.author
             channel = ctx.message.channel
             guild = ctx.guild
-            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
             issue_list = []
             success_list = []
             for user in users:
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@ class Mutes(VoiceMutes, commands.Cog, metaclass=CompositeMetaClass):
         async with ctx.typing():
             guild = ctx.guild
             author = ctx.author
-            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
             issue_list = []
             success_list = []
             if guild.id in self._channel_mute_events:
@@ -1252,7 +1252,7 @@ class Mutes(VoiceMutes, commands.Cog, metaclass=CompositeMetaClass):
             channel = ctx.channel
             author = ctx.author
             guild = ctx.guild
-            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+            audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
             success_list = []
             issue_list = []
             for user in users:
diff --git a/redbot/cogs/mutes/voicemutes.py b/redbot/cogs/mutes/voicemutes.py
index 6965ff7f5..074e6a4e1 100644
--- a/redbot/cogs/mutes/voicemutes.py
+++ b/redbot/cogs/mutes/voicemutes.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class VoiceMutes(MixinMeta):
                 guild = ctx.guild
                 author = ctx.author
                 channel = user_voice_state.channel
-                audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+                audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
 
                 success = await self.channel_mute_user(
                     guild, channel, author, user, until, audit_reason
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class VoiceMutes(MixinMeta):
                 guild = ctx.guild
                 author = ctx.author
                 channel = user_voice_state.channel
-                audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason)
+                audit_reason = get_audit_reason(author, reason, shorten=True)
 
                 success = await self.channel_unmute_user(
                     guild, channel, author, user, audit_reason
diff --git a/redbot/core/utils/mod.py b/redbot/core/utils/mod.py
index 9bccac17b..94d88432a 100644
--- a/redbot/core/utils/mod.py
+++ b/redbot/core/utils/mod.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ async def slow_deletion(messages: Iterable[discord.Message]):
             pass
 
 
-def get_audit_reason(author: discord.Member, reason: str = None):
+def get_audit_reason(author: discord.Member, reason: str = None, *, shorten: bool = False):
     """Construct a reason to appear in the audit log.
 
     Parameters
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ def get_audit_reason(author: discord.Member, reason: str = None):
         The author behind the audit log action.
     reason : str
         The reason behind the audit log action.
+    shorten : bool
+        When set to ``True``, the returned audit reason string will be
+        shortened to fit the max length allowed by Discord audit logs.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -83,11 +86,14 @@ def get_audit_reason(author: discord.Member, reason: str = None):
         The formatted audit log reason.
 
     """
-    return (
+    audit_reason = (
         "Action requested by {} (ID {}). Reason: {}".format(author, author.id, reason)
         if reason
         else "Action requested by {} (ID {}).".format(author, author.id)
     )
+    if shorten and len(audit_reason) > 512:
+        audit_reason = f"{audit_reason[:509]}..."
+    return audit_reason
 
 
 async def is_allowed_by_hierarchy(