diff --git a/llarp/path/path.cpp b/llarp/path/path.cpp
index 52b77185f..b648d9f16 100644
--- a/llarp/path/path.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/path.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ namespace llarp
   namespace path
   {
     Path::Path(const std::vector< RouterContact >& h, PathSet* parent,
-               PathRole startingRoles)
-        : m_PathSet(parent), _role(startingRoles)
+               PathRole startingRoles, std::string shortName)
+        : m_PathSet(parent), _role(startingRoles), m_shortName(std::move(shortName))
 
     {
       hops.resize(h.size());
@@ -122,6 +122,12 @@ namespace llarp
       return hops[0].rc.pubkey;
     }
 
+    const std::string&
+    Path::ShortName() const
+    {
+      return m_shortName;
+    }
+
     std::string
     Path::HopsString() const
     {
@@ -354,7 +360,7 @@ namespace llarp
       std::vector< RouterContact > newHops;
       for(const auto& hop : hops)
         newHops.emplace_back(hop.rc);
-      LogInfo(Name(), " rebuilding on ", HopsString());
+      LogInfo(Name(), " rebuilding on ", ShortName());
       m_PathSet->Build(newHops);
     }
 
@@ -639,7 +645,7 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     Path::HandlePathConfirmMessage(AbstractRouter* r)
     {
-      LogDebug("Path Build Confirm, path: ", HopsString());
+      LogDebug("Path Build Confirm, path: ", ShortName());
       const auto now = llarp::time_now_ms();
       if(_status == ePathBuilding)
       {
diff --git a/llarp/path/path.hpp b/llarp/path/path.hpp
index c6a426dbb..68b9c74c5 100644
--- a/llarp/path/path.hpp
+++ b/llarp/path/path.hpp
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ namespace llarp
       llarp_time_t buildStarted = 0;
 
       Path(const std::vector< RouterContact >& routers, PathSet* parent,
-           PathRole startingRoles);
+           PathRole startingRoles, std::string shortName);
 
       util::StatusObject
       ExtractStatus() const;
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ namespace llarp
         return _status;
       }
 
+      const std::string&
+      ShortName() const;
+
       std::string
       HopsString() const;
 
@@ -437,6 +440,8 @@ namespace llarp
       uint64_t m_RXRate     = 0;
       uint64_t m_LastTXRate = 0;
       uint64_t m_TXRate     = 0;
+
+      const std::string m_shortName;
     };
   }  // namespace path
 }  // namespace llarp
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
index 394e2ae37..8a5ca2a6a 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathbuilder.cpp
@@ -440,8 +440,11 @@ namespace llarp
       ctx->router  = m_router;
       auto self    = GetSelf();
       ctx->pathset = self;
-      auto path    = std::make_shared< path::Path >(hops, self.get(), roles);
-      LogInfo(Name(), " build ", path->HopsString());
+      std::string path_shortName = "[path " + m_router->ShortName() + "-";
+      path_shortName = path_shortName + std::to_string(m_router->NextPathBuildNumber()) + "]";
+      auto path = std::make_shared< path::Path >(hops, self.get(), roles,
+                                                 std::move(path_shortName));
+      LogInfo(Name(), " build ", path->ShortName(), ": ", path->HopsString());
       path->SetBuildResultHook(
           [self](Path_ptr p) { self->HandlePathBuilt(p); });
       ctx->AsyncGenerateKeys(path, m_router->logic(), m_router->threadpool(),
diff --git a/llarp/path/pathset.cpp b/llarp/path/pathset.cpp
index 9ec17ee86..3bc8a5366 100644
--- a/llarp/path/pathset.cpp
+++ b/llarp/path/pathset.cpp
@@ -298,21 +298,21 @@ namespace llarp
     void
     PathSet::HandlePathBuildTimeout(Path_ptr p)
     {
-      LogWarn(Name(), " path build ", p->HopsString(), " timed out");
+      LogWarn(Name(), " path build ", p->ShortName(), " timed out");
       m_BuildStats.timeouts++;
     }
 
     void
     PathSet::HandlePathBuildFailed(Path_ptr p)
     {
-      LogWarn(Name(), " path build ", p->HopsString(), " failed");
+      LogWarn(Name(), " path build ", p->ShortName(), " failed");
       m_BuildStats.fails++;
     }
 
     void
     PathSet::PathBuildStarted(Path_ptr p)
     {
-      LogInfo(Name(), " path build ", p->HopsString(), " started");
+      LogInfo(Name(), " path build ", p->ShortName(), " started");
       m_BuildStats.attempts++;
     }
 
diff --git a/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp b/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
index 255560200..188d3c3b3 100644
--- a/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/abstractrouter.hpp
@@ -248,6 +248,12 @@ namespace llarp
     virtual bool
     HasSessionTo(const RouterID &router) const = 0;
 
+    virtual uint32_t
+    NextPathBuildNumber() = 0;
+
+    virtual std::string
+    ShortName() const = 0;
+
     virtual util::StatusObject
     ExtractStatus() const = 0;
 
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.cpp b/llarp/router/router.cpp
index 3af07c3b2..86e9e39b3 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.cpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.cpp
@@ -1146,6 +1146,18 @@ namespace llarp
     return _linkManager.HasSessionTo(remote);
   }
 
+  std::string
+  Router::ShortName() const
+  {
+    return RouterID(pubkey()).ToString().substr(0, 8);
+  }
+
+  uint32_t
+  Router::NextPathBuildNumber()
+  {
+    return path_build_count++;
+  }
+
   void
   Router::ConnectToRandomRouters(int _want)
   {
diff --git a/llarp/router/router.hpp b/llarp/router/router.hpp
index 05b334b11..bf3ad2e07 100644
--- a/llarp/router/router.hpp
+++ b/llarp/router/router.hpp
@@ -477,6 +477,12 @@ namespace llarp
     bool
     HasSessionTo(const RouterID &remote) const override;
 
+    std::string
+    ShortName() const;
+
+    uint32_t
+    NextPathBuildNumber();
+
     void
     handle_router_ticker();
 
@@ -496,6 +502,8 @@ namespace llarp
 
     std::shared_ptr< llarp::KeyManager > m_keyManager;
 
+    uint32_t path_build_count = 0;
+
     bool
     ShouldReportStats(llarp_time_t now) const;
 
diff --git a/test/path/test_path.cpp b/test/path/test_path.cpp
index 8630a563f..309af48f5 100644
--- a/test/path/test_path.cpp
+++ b/test/path/test_path.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ MakePath(std::vector< char > hops)
   std::vector< RC_t > pathHops;
   for(const auto& hop : hops)
     pathHops.push_back(MakeHop(hop));
-  return std::make_shared< Path_t >(pathHops, nullptr, 0);
+  return std::make_shared< Path_t >(pathHops, nullptr, 0, "test");
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("UniqueEndpointSet_t has unique endpoints", "[path]")