diff --git a/src/terminal/Screen.zig b/src/terminal/Screen.zig
index f93ec999c..b56701838 100644
--- a/src/terminal/Screen.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/Screen.zig
@@ -255,7 +255,10 @@ pub const Options = struct {
 
     /// The total storage limit for Kitty images in bytes for this
     /// screen. Kitty image storage is per-screen.
-    kitty_image_storage_limit: usize = 320 * 1000 * 1000, // 320MB
+    kitty_image_storage_limit: usize = switch (build_options.artifact) {
+        .ghostty => 320 * 1000 * 1000, // 320MB
+        .lib => 10 * 1000 * 1000, // 10MB
+    },
 
     /// The limits for what medium types are allowed for Kitty image loading.
     kitty_image_loading_limits: if (build_options.kitty_graphics)
diff --git a/src/terminal/Terminal.zig b/src/terminal/Terminal.zig
index b128cdd3d..f6268c719 100644
--- a/src/terminal/Terminal.zig
+++ b/src/terminal/Terminal.zig
@@ -194,7 +194,14 @@ pub const Options = struct {
 
     /// The total storage limit for Kitty images in bytes. Has no effect
     /// if kitty images are disabled at build-time.
-    kitty_image_storage_limit: usize = 320 * 1000 * 1000, // 320MB
+    kitty_image_storage_limit: usize = switch (build_options.artifact) {
+        .ghostty => 320 * 1000 * 1000, // 320MB
+
+        // libghostty we start with a much lower limit since this is an
+        // embedded library and we want to be more conservative with memory
+        // usage by default.
+        .lib => 10 * 1000 * 1000, // 10MB
+    },
 
     /// The limits for what medium types are allowed for Kitty image loading.
     /// Has no effect if kitty images are disabled otherwise. For example,