diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/agent_server.rs b/hive-c0re/src/agent_server.rs
index 87daea2..2df2a09 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/agent_server.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/agent_server.rs
@@ -308,6 +308,20 @@ fn handle_remind(
 /// dance (see [`prepare_remind_storage`]), and writes the reminder
 /// row. Returns `Ok(())` on success, or a caller-ready error string
 /// the dispatcher wraps in `*Response::Err`.
+/// Maximum pending (un-delivered) reminders per agent. Exceeding this
+/// causes `store_remind` to return an error so the agent knows to back
+/// off instead of silently dropping. Override via
+/// `HIVE_REMIND_MAX_PENDING_PER_AGENT`; set to `0` to disable the cap
+/// (not recommended — a runaway agent can still flood the scheduler).
+const DEFAULT_REMIND_MAX_PENDING: u64 = 50;
+
+fn remind_max_pending() -> u64 {
+    std::env::var("HIVE_REMIND_MAX_PENDING_PER_AGENT")
+        .ok()
+        .and_then(|s| s.trim().parse::<u64>().ok())
+        .unwrap_or(DEFAULT_REMIND_MAX_PENDING)
+}
+
 pub(crate) fn store_remind(
     coord: &Arc<Coordinator>,
     agent: &str,
@@ -315,6 +329,21 @@ pub(crate) fn store_remind(
     timing: &hive_sh4re::ReminderTiming,
     file_path: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let max = remind_max_pending();
+    if max > 0 {
+        let pending = coord
+            .broker
+            .count_pending_reminders_for(agent)
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        if pending >= max {
+            return Err(format!(
+                "reminder rejected: agent `{agent}` already has {pending} pending \
+                 reminders (cap {max}). Cancel some via `cancel_loose_end` or wait \
+                 for them to fire before scheduling more. Override the cap with \
+                 `HIVE_REMIND_MAX_PENDING_PER_AGENT`."
+            ));
+        }
+    }
     let due_at = resolve_due_at(timing).map_err(|e| format!("invalid reminder timing: {e:#}"))?;
     let (stored_message, stored_path) = prepare_remind_storage(agent, message, file_path)?;
     let id = coord