diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/file/read.py b/src/plyngent/tools/file/read.py
index f72ac4d..a8b75bf 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/tools/file/read.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/file/read.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from typing import cast
 
 from plyngent.agent import ToolTag, mark_lineno_read, tool
+from plyngent.agent.budget import DEFAULT_TOOL_RESULT_MAX_CHARS
 from plyngent.tools.truncate_token import truncate_with_token
 from plyngent.tools.workspace import resolve_path
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ async def read_file(
     offset: int = 0,
     limit: int | None = None,
     with_lineno: bool = False,
-    max_chars: int | None = None,
+    max_chars: int = DEFAULT_TOOL_RESULT_MAX_CHARS,
 ) -> str:
     """Read a text file under the workspace.
 
@@ -64,11 +65,10 @@ async def read_file(
     with its 1-based file line number (``     N|…``), matching ``edit_lineno``
     numbering, and those lines are marked readable for ``edit_lineno`` this turn.
 
-    ``max_chars`` caps the returned slice; a ``TRUNCATE_TOKEN`` is appended so
-    ``get_truncated`` can continue reading the rest without a new request.
-
-    The result starts with a 1-based inclusive line range ``L{begin}-{end}`` so
-    the caller knows exactly which file lines were read (offset is 0-based).
+    ``max_chars`` caps the returned slice (default: the agent's tool-result cap,
+    ``DEFAULT_TOOL_RESULT_MAX_CHARS``); a ``truncate_token`` is appended when cut
+    so ``get_truncated`` can continue reading the rest without a new request.
+    Pass ``max_chars < 1`` to read unbounded.
     """
     target = resolve_path(path)
     text, err = read_raw_text(path)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ async def read_file(
         body = _format_with_lineno(slice_lines, start_lineno=start + 1)
     else:
         body = "".join(slice_lines)
-    if max_chars is not None and max_chars >= 1:
+    if max_chars >= 1:
         char_start = len("".join(lines[:start]))
         body, _ = truncate_with_token(
             body,
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ async def read_file(
             offset=char_start,
             limit=max_chars,
             total_len=len(text),
+            # read_file bounds the read via offset/limit; only mark when the
+            # returned slice itself was cut by max_chars (not just "file continues").
+            emit_more_after=False,
         )
     if not body:
         return ""
diff --git a/src/plyngent/tools/truncate_token.py b/src/plyngent/tools/truncate_token.py
index be3af0e..efc207d 100644
--- a/src/plyngent/tools/truncate_token.py
+++ b/src/plyngent/tools/truncate_token.py
@@ -95,17 +95,19 @@ def truncate_with_token(
     offset: int,
     limit: int,
     total_len: int,
+    emit_more_after: bool = True,
 ) -> tuple[str, TruncateToken | None]:
     """Bound ``text`` (a slice of the full source starting at ``offset``) to ``max_chars``.
 
-    Returns ``(bounded_text, next_token)``. A token is embedded whenever more
-    source content remains after the returned chunk, so ``get_truncated``
-    chains through truncations; each chunk may itself carry a fresh token. The
-    token advances by the length actually returned (no content is skipped), and
-    the marker is budgeted so the total returned length stays near
-    ``max_chars`` (the agent loop's own cap never re-cuts it and never strips
-    the token). ``omitted`` in the marker counts source characters not yet
-    delivered. When nothing was cut and the source ends, ``text`` is returned
+    Returns ``(bounded_text, next_token)``. A token is embedded whenever the
+    returned chunk is cut (overflow) or, with ``emit_more_after`` (default),
+    whenever more source content remains after the chunk — so ``get_truncated``
+    chains through truncations. The token advances by the length actually
+    returned (no content is skipped), and the marker is budgeted so the total
+    returned length stays near ``max_chars`` (the agent loop's own cap never
+    re-cuts it and never strips the token). ``omitted`` in the marker counts
+    source characters not yet delivered. When nothing was cut and
+    (``emit_more_after=False`` or the source ends), ``text`` is returned
     unchanged with no marker.
     """
     if max_chars < 1:
@@ -120,6 +122,8 @@ def truncate_with_token(
             return text[:max_chars] + truncation_marker(max_chars, omitted, first), first
         token = TruncateToken(kind=kind, location=location, offset=offset + cut, limit=limit)
         return text[:cut] + truncation_marker(max_chars, omitted, token), token
+    if not emit_more_after:
+        return text, None
     more_after = offset + len(text) < total_len
     if not more_after:
         return text, None
diff --git a/tests/test_tools/test_file.py b/tests/test_tools/test_file.py
index 9fe58fd..8258eae 100644
--- a/tests/test_tools/test_file.py
+++ b/tests/test_tools/test_file.py
@@ -45,6 +45,21 @@ def test_read_file_max_chars_embeds_token(workspace: Path) -> None:
     assert parsed.offset == len(content)  # cursor lands exactly where content stops
 
 
+def test_read_file_default_truncates_at_cap(workspace: Path) -> None:
+    """Truncation is the default: a large read embeds a token without max_chars."""
+    (workspace / "huge.txt").write_text("\n".join(f"line-{i}" for i in range(10_000)), encoding="utf-8")
+    out = call_sync(read_file, "huge.txt")
+    header, _, rest = out.partition("\n")
+    assert header == "L1-10000"  # the requested slice (whole file)
+    assert "truncate_token=" in rest
+    # The slice is capped near the default tool-result cap.
+    assert len(rest) <= 32_000
+    # No marker when the file is small (no truncation occurred).
+    small = call_sync(read_file, "huge.txt", max_chars=0)
+    assert "Truncated" not in small
+    assert small.startswith("L1-10000\n")
+
+
 def test_read_file_max_chars_small_file_untouched(workspace: Path) -> None:
     (workspace / "small.txt").write_text("tiny", encoding="utf-8")
     out = call_sync(read_file, "small.txt", max_chars=200)