diff --git a/mcp.md b/mcp.md
index 224f856..82891e9 100644
--- a/mcp.md
+++ b/mcp.md
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ server.registerTool('dash-subagent', {
         task: z.string().describe('Specific instructions and goal for the subagent.'),
         skills: z.array(z.string()).nullable().optional().describe('Array of SKILL names or slugs to inject.'),
         conversation_id: z.number().int().positive().nullable().optional().describe('Existing subagent conversation ID to follow up on, or null to create a new one.'),
-        max_iterations: z.number().int().min(1).max(30).nullable().optional().describe('Safety bound on tool loops (default 15, max 30).'),
+        max_iterations: z.number().int().min(10).max(50).nullable().optional().describe('Safety bound on tool loops (min 10, default 20, max 50).'),
         model: z.string().nullable().optional().describe('Optional OpenRouter model override.'),
         note: z.string().nullable().optional(),
     },
diff --git a/src/api/routes/mcp.js b/src/api/routes/mcp.js
index 7a3383d..9f5884b 100644
--- a/src/api/routes/mcp.js
+++ b/src/api/routes/mcp.js
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ function createDashbackMcpServer({ user }) {
                 task: z.string().describe(TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS.subagent?.task || 'Specific instructions and goal for the subagent.'),
                 skills: z.array(z.string()).nullable().optional().describe(TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS.subagent?.skills || 'Array of SKILL names or slugs to inject into the subagent prompt.'),
                 conversation_id: z.number().int().positive().nullable().optional().describe(TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS.subagent?.conversation_id || 'Existing subagent conversation ID to follow up on, or null to create a new one.'),
-                max_iterations: z.number().int().min(1).max(30).nullable().optional().describe(TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS.subagent?.max_iterations || 'Safety bound on tool loops (default 15, max 30).'),
+                max_iterations: z.number().int().min(10).max(50).nullable().optional().describe(TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS.subagent?.max_iterations || 'Safety bound on tool loops (min 10, default 20, max 50).'),
                 model: z.string().nullable().optional().describe('Optional OpenRouter model override. Defaults to company default model.'),
                 note: z.string().nullable().optional().describe(TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS.subagent?.note || 'Status message shown during execution.'),
             },
diff --git a/src/tools/prompts.js b/src/tools/prompts.js
index ae8cce0..77ba75b 100644
--- a/src/tools/prompts.js
+++ b/src/tools/prompts.js
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ export const TOOL_PARAMETER_DESCRIPTIONS = {
         task: 'Specific instructions and goal for the subagent.',
         skills: 'Array of SKILLs (e.g. ["api-article.SKILL", "label.SKILL"]) to inject directly into the subagent system prompt.',
         conversation_id: 'Existing subagent conversation ID to follow up on, or null to create a new one.',
-        max_iterations: 'Safety bound on tool loops (default 15, max 30).',
+        max_iterations: 'Safety bound on tool loops (min 10, default 20, max 50).',
     },
 
     draft_delivery_manifest: {
diff --git a/src/tools/subagent.js b/src/tools/subagent.js
index 59c3637..de6e70b 100644
--- a/src/tools/subagent.js
+++ b/src/tools/subagent.js
@@ -40,19 +40,21 @@ import { createDraftDeliveryManifestTool } from './draft-delivery-manifest.js';
  * stays in the subagent's conversation.
  */
 
-// #region Constants
-
-const DEFAULT_MAX_ITERATIONS = 15;
-const MAX_ITERATIONS_LIMIT = 30;
+const MIN_ITERATIONS_LIMIT = 10;
+const DEFAULT_MAX_ITERATIONS = 20;
+const MAX_ITERATIONS_LIMIT = 50;
 /** Subagents never spawn subagents: the parent runs at depth 0, its child at depth 1. */
 const MAX_SUBAGENT_DEPTH = 1;
 const SUBAGENT_PROVIDER = 'openrouter';
 
-const SUBAGENT_PROMPT_NOTICE = [
-    'SUBAGENT MODE:',
-    '- You are a subagent working for a primary agent, not talking to the end user. You cannot ask the user questions.',
-    '- Finish with a concise, self-contained final answer: what was done, key findings, and any file paths or IDs the primary agent needs.',
-].join('\n');
+function buildSubagentPromptNotice(maxIterations) {
+    return [
+        'SUBAGENT MODE:',
+        '- You are a subagent working for a primary agent, not talking to the end user. You cannot ask the user questions.',
+        `- You have a strict limit of ${maxIterations} iterations for this task. Budget your tool calls efficiently to finish and return your final answer within this limit.`,
+        '- Finish with a concise, self-contained final answer: what was done, key findings, and any file paths or IDs the primary agent needs.',
+    ].join('\n');
+}
 
 // #endregion
 
@@ -242,7 +244,7 @@ export function createSubagentTool({ googleAuthId, companyId, conversationId: pa
             if (!Number.isInteger(iterationLimit) || iterationLimit < 1) {
                 throw new ToolError(`"max_iterations" must be a positive integer (received ${maxIterations}).`);
             }
-            const boundedIterations = Math.min(iterationLimit, MAX_ITERATIONS_LIMIT);
+            const boundedIterations = Math.max(MIN_ITERATIONS_LIMIT, Math.min(iterationLimit, MAX_ITERATIONS_LIMIT));
 
             const vfsRoot = await prepareVfs({ googleAuthId });
             const injectedSkills = buildInjectedSkillsBlock(vfsRoot, skills);
@@ -291,7 +293,7 @@ export function createSubagentTool({ googleAuthId, companyId, conversationId: pa
                 const fullHistory = await db.listMessages(googleAuthId, subagentConversationId);
                 const systemPrompt = [
                     await buildSystemPrompt(vfsRoot, googleAuthId),
-                    SUBAGENT_PROMPT_NOTICE,
+                    buildSubagentPromptNotice(boundedIterations),
                     injectedSkills,
                 ].filter(Boolean).join('\n\n');