diff --git a/src/perspicacite/rag/utils/__init__.py b/src/perspicacite/rag/utils/__init__.py
index 7fe3f06..b452f13 100644
--- a/src/perspicacite/rag/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/src/perspicacite/rag/utils/__init__.py
@@ -243,14 +243,16 @@ def get_system_prompt() -> str:
 - Visible link text: `[<N>, <Surname> et al., <Journal>, <Year>]` — where <N> is the 1-based paper number from the Documents block (look for the `[Paper N]` header), <Surname> is the FIRST AUTHOR's last name (taken from the metadata after `—`), <Journal> is the journal name (after `|`), and <Year> is the year (in parentheses). Substitute REAL VALUES — never write the placeholder words `<N>`, `Surname`, `Journal`, `Year`, or `FirstAuthor` literally.
 - When there is only one author, drop "et al." and use the surname alone.
 - If the journal is unknown, omit that field and keep the rest.
-- The link `title` attribute MUST hold the full citation: `<All authors>. <Year>. <Title>. <Journal>.`
+- The link `title` attribute holds a SHORT one-line hover citation — `<Title>. <Year>. <Journal>.` — i.e. the paper's title, year, and journal ONLY. Do NOT list the authors inside the `title` attribute; the application shows the full author list in its own reference list. Keeping the `title` to title/year/journal avoids long, error-prone author strings.
 - The link URL is the paper's DOI (`https://doi.org/<doi>`) when present; otherwise leave it as `#`.
 
 Example (note real surname/journal/year substituted in):
-`[2, Tautenhahn et al., BMC Bioinformatics, 2008](https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-9-504 "Ralf Tautenhahn, Christoph Böttcher, Steffen Neumann. 2008. Highly sensitive feature detection for high resolution LC/MS. BMC Bioinformatics.")`
+`[2, Tautenhahn et al., BMC Bioinformatics, 2008](https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-9-504 "Highly sensitive feature detection for high resolution LC/MS. 2008. BMC Bioinformatics.")`
 
 NEVER emit bare `[Paper N]` markers, `(Author, Year)` plain text without a link, or `[N]` numeric-only citations.
 
+DO NOT write a "References", "Bibliography", or "Sources" heading or list at the end of your answer. The application appends the authoritative, grounded reference list automatically — adding your own duplicates it and risks fabricated entries. Use ONLY the inline citations described above; never restate the sources as a list.
+
 FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:
 1. Start with a brief overview/introduction (2-3 sentences)
 2. Use ## for main section headings (e.g., ## Overview, ## Key Points)
@@ -268,6 +270,23 @@ def get_system_prompt() -> str:
     )
 
 
+# A short unit (1-24 non-newline chars) repeated 8+ times in a row is almost
+# never legitimate prose — it is a small-model degeneration (e.g. a citation
+# author list looping into "H. H. H. …" hundreds of times). Collapse such runs.
+_RUNAWAY_REPEAT_RE = re.compile(r"([^\n]{1,24}?)\1{7,}")
+
+
+def collapse_runaway_repeats(text: str, keep: int = 3) -> str:
+    """Collapse pathological consecutive repetitions a small model occasionally
+    emits (e.g. an author list degenerating into 'H. H. H. …' hundreds of
+    times). A unit of 1-24 non-newline chars repeated 8+ times in a row is
+    replaced by ``keep`` copies followed by '…'. A no-op on normal text.
+    """
+    if not text:
+        return text
+    return _RUNAWAY_REPEAT_RE.sub(lambda m: m.group(1) * keep + "…", text)
+
+
 def format_references_academic(papers: list[dict]) -> str:
     """Format papers as academic references with markdown links.
 
diff --git a/src/perspicacite/web/routers/chat.py b/src/perspicacite/web/routers/chat.py
index ac42816..f9bd779 100644
--- a/src/perspicacite/web/routers/chat.py
+++ b/src/perspicacite/web/routers/chat.py
@@ -675,9 +675,15 @@ async def agentic_chat_stream(request: ChatRequest, conversation_id: str | None
             # Persist the assistant reply too.
             if conversation_id and app_state.session_store:
                 try:
+                    from perspicacite.rag.utils import collapse_runaway_repeats
+
                     await app_state.session_store.add_message(
                         conversation_id,
-                        Message(id=assistant_message_id, role="assistant", content=reply),
+                        Message(
+                            id=assistant_message_id,
+                            role="assistant",
+                            content=collapse_runaway_repeats(reply),
+                        ),
                     )
                 except Exception as e:
                     logger.warning(f"Failed to save chat-only assistant message: {e}")
@@ -730,10 +736,16 @@ async def agentic_chat_stream(request: ChatRequest, conversation_id: str | None
     # Save assistant message to conversation
     if conversation_id and app_state.session_store and assistant_content:
         try:
+            from perspicacite.rag.utils import collapse_runaway_repeats
+
             msg_id = assistant_message_id_outer or str(uuid.uuid4())
             await app_state.session_store.add_message(
                 conversation_id,
-                Message(id=msg_id, role="assistant", content=assistant_content),
+                Message(
+                    id=msg_id,
+                    role="assistant",
+                    content=collapse_runaway_repeats(assistant_content),
+                ),
             )
             logger.info(f"Saved conversation messages to {conversation_id}")
         except Exception as e: