diff --git a/pallas/mantle_shims.py b/pallas/mantle_shims.py
index 3e75ec1..1f1b984 100644
--- a/pallas/mantle_shims.py
+++ b/pallas/mantle_shims.py
@@ -224,11 +224,25 @@ def install_max_tokens_clamp() -> None:
 # ── Orchestrator ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 def install_all() -> None:
-    """Install all Mantle shims. Call once at process startup."""
+    """Install all Mantle shims. Call once at process startup.
+
+    ``install_max_tokens_clamp`` is deliberately NOT installed. Its 20 000
+    ceiling was an empirical observation, never a documented Mantle limit,
+    and re-investigation could not establish what enforces it: fast-agent
+    carries no 20 000 default anywhere, no model overlay is configured, and
+    ``ModelDatabase`` reports ``max_output_tokens=128000`` for opus-4-8.
+    Hardcoding the constant would cement a ceiling we cannot prove and would
+    silently truncate turns that might otherwise complete. The shim is kept
+    below so it can be re-enabled if the limit is ever confirmed.
+
+    The fine-grained-tool-streaming opt-out is what actually fixes the
+    ``Streaming completed but tool call never finished`` crash loop: it costs
+    no output length, it only lets a cutoff close its blocks properly and
+    land in fast-agent's graceful ``stop_reason=max_tokens`` handling.
+    """
     install_wire_name_prefix()
     install_tool_use_caller_strip()
     install_fine_grained_tool_streaming_opt_out()
-    install_max_tokens_clamp()
 
 
 def maybe_install(anthropic_base_url: str | None) -> bool:
diff --git a/tests/test_mantle_shims.py b/tests/test_mantle_shims.py
index cae2fd6..48fceec 100644
--- a/tests/test_mantle_shims.py
+++ b/tests/test_mantle_shims.py
@@ -200,7 +200,9 @@ def test_maybe_install_installs_when_mantle(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) ->
 
     installed = mantle_shims.maybe_install("https://bedrock-mantle.us-east-1.api.aws/anthropic")
     assert installed is True
-    assert calls == ["wire", "tool_use", "beta_opt_out", "max_tokens"]
+    # "max_tokens" is intentionally absent: the 20 000 clamp is not installed
+    # by default because the ceiling was never confirmed. See install_all().
+    assert calls == ["wire", "tool_use", "beta_opt_out"]
 
 
 def test_maybe_install_noop_for_non_mantle(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None: