diff --git a/src/v/kafka/client/logger.h b/src/v/kafka/client/logger.h
index 61eb592b383b5..cb2d206950018 100644
--- a/src/v/kafka/client/logger.h
+++ b/src/v/kafka/client/logger.h
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 
 #include <seastar/util/log.hh>
 
+#include <utils/truncating_logger.h>
+
 namespace kafka::client {
 inline ss::logger kclog("kafka/client");
+inline truncating_logger kcwire(kclog, 1048576);
 } // namespace kafka::client