diff --git a/src/reels/mod.rs b/src/reels/mod.rs
index 059ce43..2a4e6e9 100644
--- a/src/reels/mod.rs
+++ b/src/reels/mod.rs
@@ -1053,7 +1053,11 @@ async fn pregen_one(
         } else {
             Some(library.to_string())
         },
-        max_segments: 24,
+        // Must match the on-demand default (create_reel_handler) so the cache
+        // key — which encodes the raw max_segments — lines up and the on-demand
+        // cache-hit path serves this pre-generated reel. The client sends no
+        // max_segments, so it defaults to DEFAULT_MAX_SEGMENTS there too.
+        max_segments: selector::DEFAULT_MAX_SEGMENTS,
     };
 
     let exif_dao = app_state.insight_generator.exif_dao();