diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py b/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py
index 304bea3dd..64c8fa1b9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/backends.py
@@ -781,9 +781,17 @@ class Backend:
 
     @staticmethod
     def canonicalize_filename(fname: str) -> str:
+        parts = Path(fname).parts
+        hashed = ''
+        if len(parts) > 5:
+            temp = '/'.join(parts[-5:])
+            # is it shorter to hash the beginning of the path?
+            if len(fname) > len(temp) + 41:
+                hashed = hashlib.sha1(fname.encode('utf-8')).hexdigest() + '_'
+                fname = temp
         for ch in ('/', '\\', ':'):
             fname = fname.replace(ch, '_')
-        return fname
+        return hashed + fname
 
     def object_filename_from_source(self, target: build.BuildTarget, source: 'FileOrString') -> str:
         assert isinstance(source, mesonlib.File)