diff --git a/plugins/parsers/influx/parser.go b/plugins/parsers/influx/parser.go
index 68db9128f..620104ac6 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/influx/parser.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/influx/parser.go
@@ -38,7 +38,20 @@ func (e *ParseError) Error() string {
 		buffer = buffer[:eol]
 	}
 	if len(buffer) > maxErrorBufferSize {
-		buffer = buffer[:maxErrorBufferSize] + "..."
+		startEllipsis := true
+		offset := e.Offset - e.LineOffset
+		start := offset - maxErrorBufferSize
+		if start < 0 {
+			startEllipsis = false
+			start = 0
+		}
+		// if we trimmed it the column won't line up. it'll always be the last character,
+		// because the parser doesn't continue past it, but point it out anyway so
+		// it's obvious where the issue is.
+		buffer = buffer[start:offset] + "<-- here"
+		if startEllipsis {
+			buffer = "..." + buffer
+		}
 	}
 	return fmt.Sprintf("metric parse error: %s at %d:%d: %q", e.msg, e.LineNumber, e.Column, buffer)
 }
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/influx/parser_test.go b/plugins/parsers/influx/parser_test.go
index 3104c1f3f..368ad277d 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/influx/parser_test.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/influx/parser_test.go
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ func TestParserErrorString(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:      "buffer too long",
 			input:     []byte("cpu " + strings.Repeat("ab", maxErrorBufferSize) + "=invalid\ncpu value=42"),
-			errString: "metric parse error: expected field at 1:2054: \"cpu " + strings.Repeat("ab", maxErrorBufferSize)[:maxErrorBufferSize-4] + "...\"",
+			errString: "metric parse error: expected field at 1:2054: \"...b" + strings.Repeat("ab", maxErrorBufferSize/2-1) + "=<-- here\"",
 		},
 		{
 			name:      "multiple line error",
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ func TestStreamParserErrorString(t *testing.T) {
 			name:  "buffer too long",
 			input: []byte("cpu " + strings.Repeat("ab", maxErrorBufferSize) + "=invalid\ncpu value=42"),
 			errs: []string{
-				"metric parse error: expected field at 1:2054: \"cpu " + strings.Repeat("ab", maxErrorBufferSize)[:maxErrorBufferSize-4] + "...\"",
+				"metric parse error: expected field at 1:2054: \"...b" + strings.Repeat("ab", maxErrorBufferSize/2-1) + "=<-- here\"",
 			},
 		},
 		{