diff --git a/tests/memory/test_udf_project.py b/tests/memory/test_udf_project.py
index 7ac1bfee98..c67cda0e28 100644
--- a/tests/memory/test_udf_project.py
+++ b/tests/memory/test_udf_project.py
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@
 from tests.memory.utils import run_wrapper_build_partitions
 
 
+def format_bytes(bytes_value):
+    """Format bytes into human readable string with appropriate unit."""
+    for unit in ["B", "KB", "MB", "GB"]:
+        if bytes_value < 1024:
+            return f"{bytes_value:.2f} {unit}"
+        bytes_value /= 1024
+    return f"{bytes_value:.2f} GB"
+
+
 @daft.udf(return_dtype=str)
 def to_arrow_identity(s):
     data = s.to_arrow()
@@ -49,10 +58,37 @@ def to_pylist_identity_batched_arrow_return(s):
         to_pylist_identity_batched_arrow_return,
     ],
 )
-def test_string_identity_projection(udf):
+def test_short_string_identity_projection(udf):
+    instructions = [Project(ExpressionsProjection([udf(daft.col("a"))]))]
+    inputs = [{"a": [str(uuid.uuid4()) for _ in range(62500)]}]
+    _, memray_file = run_wrapper_build_partitions(inputs, instructions)
+    stats = compute_statistics(memray_file)
+
+    expected_peak_bytes = 100
+    assert stats.peak_memory_allocated < expected_peak_bytes, (
+        f"Peak memory ({format_bytes(stats.peak_memory_allocated)}) "
+        f"exceeded threshold ({format_bytes(expected_peak_bytes)})"
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "udf",
+    [
+        to_arrow_identity,
+        to_pylist_identity,
+        to_arrow_identity_batched,
+        to_pylist_identity_batched,
+        to_pylist_identity_batched_arrow_return,
+    ],
+)
+def test_long_string_identity_projection(udf):
     instructions = [Project(ExpressionsProjection([udf(daft.col("a"))]))]
     inputs = [{"a": [str(uuid.uuid4()) for _ in range(625000)]}]
     _, memray_file = run_wrapper_build_partitions(inputs, instructions)
     stats = compute_statistics(memray_file)
 
-    assert stats.peak_memory_allocated < 100
+    expected_peak_bytes = 100
+    assert stats.peak_memory_allocated < expected_peak_bytes, (
+        f"Peak memory ({format_bytes(stats.peak_memory_allocated)}) "
+        f"exceeded threshold ({format_bytes(expected_peak_bytes)})"
+    )
diff --git a/tests/memory/utils.py b/tests/memory/utils.py
index bc92c3dc3c..a1f17f706d 100644
--- a/tests/memory/utils.py
+++ b/tests/memory/utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import logging
 import os
 import tempfile
 import uuid
@@ -9,11 +10,16 @@
 from daft.runners.ray_runner import build_partitions
 from daft.table import MicroPartition
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def run_wrapper_build_partitions(
     input_partitions: list[dict], instructions: list[Instruction]
 ) -> tuple[list[MicroPartition], str]:
     inputs = [MicroPartition.from_pydict(p) for p in input_partitions]
+
+    logger.info("Input total size: %s", sum(i.size_bytes() for i in inputs))
+
     tmpdir = tempfile.gettempdir()
     memray_path = os.path.join(tmpdir, f"memray-{uuid.uuid4()}.bin")
     with memray.Tracker(memray_path, native_traces=True, follow_fork=True):