diff --git a/internal/herdr/adapter.go b/internal/herdr/adapter.go
index 7aefe0a..b09c9d8 100644
--- a/internal/herdr/adapter.go
+++ b/internal/herdr/adapter.go
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ NEXT: the single next action (one line, at most 200 characters).
 WHY: why that is next (one line, at most 200 characters).
 REMAINING: outstanding items, one line each, at most 200 characters each. If none: NONE.
 DEAD ENDS: approaches tried that failed — "X → why it failed", one per line. Either arrow, and the words "tried"/"failed because" are optional. If none: NONE.
-OPEN Q: unresolved decisions, one line each. If none: NONE.
-LEARNED: constraints discovered that are NOT in TASK.md, one line each. If none: NONE.
+OPEN Q: unresolved decisions, one line each, at most 200 characters each. If none: NONE.
+LEARNED: constraints discovered that are NOT in TASK.md, one line each, at most 200 characters each. If none: NONE.
 
 Do NOT include: what you completed (the diff shows it), the goal or done-criteria (TASK.md holds them), git SHAs/branches/paths, or a prose summary. No headings and no report. Do not edit TASK.md.`
 
diff --git a/internal/herdr/adapter_test.go b/internal/herdr/adapter_test.go
index 5796ad3..0748c43 100644
--- a/internal/herdr/adapter_test.go
+++ b/internal/herdr/adapter_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -408,3 +409,22 @@ LEARNED: e
 		t.Error("a dead end with no separator was accepted")
 	}
 }
+
+// Every field the validator bounds must say so. Run 10 lost a lease to a
+// 219-character OPEN Q against a limit the prompt stated for NEXT, WHY and
+// REMAINING only.
+func TestHandoffPromptStatesTheLimitOnEveryBoundedField(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, field := range []string{"NEXT", "WHY", "REMAINING", "OPEN Q", "LEARNED"} {
+		i := strings.Index(handoffPrompt, field+":")
+		if i < 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("the prompt never names %s", field)
+		}
+		line := handoffPrompt[i:]
+		if j := strings.Index(line, "\n"); j >= 0 {
+			line = line[:j]
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(line, "200 characters") {
+			t.Errorf("%s is bounded at 200 but the prompt never says so: %q", field, line)
+		}
+	}
+}