diff --git a/decnet/web/db/models/realism.py b/decnet/web/db/models/realism.py
index 0eaea29b..668e10e7 100644
--- a/decnet/web/db/models/realism.py
+++ b/decnet/web/db/models/realism.py
@@ -58,7 +58,11 @@ class SyntheticFile(SQLModel, table=True):
     )
     uuid: str = Field(default_factory=lambda: str(uuid4()), primary_key=True)
     decky_uuid: str = Field(index=True, max_length=64)
-    path: str = Field(max_length=1024)
+    # Capped at 512 so the (decky_uuid, path) unique index fits MySQL's
+    # 3072-byte utf8mb4 limit: (64+512)*4 = 2304 bytes. Real realism +
+    # canary paths are well under (longest is
+    # ``/home/<persona>/Documents/Q3-Operations-Review.docx``, ~70 chars).
+    path: str = Field(max_length=512)
     persona: str = Field(max_length=128)              # EmailPersona.name
     content_class: str = Field(max_length=32, index=True)  # ContentClass enum value
     created_at: datetime = Field(
diff --git a/tests/realism/test_synthetic_files_repo.py b/tests/realism/test_synthetic_files_repo.py
index 8a5f5a24..55fa6a7c 100644
--- a/tests/realism/test_synthetic_files_repo.py
+++ b/tests/realism/test_synthetic_files_repo.py
@@ -150,3 +150,18 @@ async def test_get_synthetic_file_returns_row(repo):
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_get_synthetic_file_returns_none_when_missing(repo):
     assert await repo.get_synthetic_file("does-not-exist") is None
+
+
+def test_path_max_length_fits_mysql_utf8mb4_index_limit():
+    """The unique (decky_uuid, path) index has to fit MySQL's 3072-byte
+    utf8mb4 cap: (decky_uuid_len + path_len) * 4 <= 3072. A regression
+    that widens path past this triggers
+    ``Specified key was too long`` on MySQL DB init."""
+    from decnet.web.db.models.realism import SyntheticFile
+    fields = SyntheticFile.model_fields
+    decky_len = fields["decky_uuid"].metadata[0].max_length  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    path_len = fields["path"].metadata[0].max_length  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    assert (decky_len + path_len) * 4 <= 3072, (
+        f"(decky_uuid={decky_len} + path={path_len}) * 4 = "
+        f"{(decky_len + path_len) * 4} exceeds MySQL utf8mb4 index cap"
+    )