diff --git a/py/autotag.py b/py/autotag.py
index 0c807f06..68c72a5b 100644
--- a/py/autotag.py
+++ b/py/autotag.py
@@ -16,10 +16,13 @@ from PIL import Image
 # A loader takes (model_type, use_gpu) and returns ("gguf" | "wd14" | "hf", backend)
 ModelLoader = Callable[[str, bool], Tuple[str, Any]]
 
-# Suggestions keep only names a Save accepts (the vocabulary tag rules).
+# Suggestions keep only names a Save accepts (the vocabulary tag rules), and
+# never more than one image tag set holds.
 try:
+    from ..database.annotations import MAX_IMAGE_TAGS
     from ..database.vocabulary import validate_vocabulary_tag_name
 except ImportError:
+    from database.annotations import MAX_IMAGE_TAGS
     from database.vocabulary import validate_vocabulary_tag_name
 
 # Try to import logging from utils, fallback to standard logging
@@ -94,8 +97,8 @@ DEFAULT_PROMPT = (
     "descriptive."
 )
 
-# Upper bound of one suggestion request: the image tag set cap (100 names).
-MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT = 100
+# Upper bound of one suggestion request: the image tag set cap.
+MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT = MAX_IMAGE_TAGS
 
 SYSTEM_PROMPT = (
     "You are a helpful assistant and help users with any queries they may have "
diff --git a/py/config.py b/py/config.py
index 5115bfe3..a2285246 100644
--- a/py/config.py
+++ b/py/config.py
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ class IntegrationConfig:
 # Number of tag suggestions the Tag dialogs request by default (D68). The cap
 # is the image tag set limit: more suggestions could never all be kept.
 DEFAULT_SUGGESTION_LIMIT = 10
-MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT = 100
+MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT = 100  # pinned to MAX_IMAGE_TAGS by tests/test_config.py
 
 
 class AutotagConfig:
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 795de80c..0b2805a0 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -427,6 +427,18 @@ class TestAutotagConfig(unittest.TestCase):
                 PromptManagerConfig.load_from_file(path)
         return logs
 
+    def test_every_copy_of_the_tag_set_cap_is_one_value(self):
+        # A suggestion request is bounded by the image tag set cap; the
+        # copies that cannot import it (config loads before the database,
+        # the inspection envelope stays storage-free) are pinned to it here.
+        from database.annotations import MAX_IMAGE_TAGS
+        from py import autotag
+        from utils import inspection_response
+
+        self.assertEqual(autotag.MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT, MAX_IMAGE_TAGS)
+        self.assertEqual(config_module.MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT, MAX_IMAGE_TAGS)
+        self.assertEqual(inspection_response.MAX_IMAGE_TAGS, MAX_IMAGE_TAGS)
+
     def test_default_is_ten_and_persisted_under_autotag_defaults(self):
         self.assertEqual(config_module.DEFAULT_SUGGESTION_LIMIT, 10)
         self.assertEqual(config_module.MAX_SUGGESTION_LIMIT, 100)
diff --git a/utils/inspection_response.py b/utils/inspection_response.py
index fae4c35b..048103ac 100644
--- a/utils/inspection_response.py
+++ b/utils/inspection_response.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 
 MAX_RESPONSE_BYTES = 8 * 1024 * 1024
 MAX_LIBRARY_BYTES = 32 * 1024
-# The image tag set cap (database/annotations.py MAX_IMAGE_TAGS).
+# The image tag set cap (database/annotations.py MAX_IMAGE_TAGS; pinned equal
+# by tests/test_config.py).
 MAX_IMAGE_TAGS = 100
 _IMAGE_TAG_STATES = frozenset({"current", "none", "unavailable"})
 _MAX_SAFE_INTEGER = 2**53 - 1