diff --git a/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image.rs b/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image.rs
index da26e2a..85fd217 100644
--- a/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image.rs
+++ b/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image.rs
@@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ pub(crate) fn load(store: Option<&Path>, room_id: &str, image: &ChatImage) -> Re
     if meta.len() > MAX_BYTES {
         return Err(Skip::TooLarge);
     }
-    let bytes = read_bounded(&wanted).map_err(|_| Skip::Missing)?;
+    let mut bytes = Vec::new();
+    // A file that grew since the check reads as another size than the declared one.
+    File::open(&wanted).map_err(|_| Skip::Missing)?.take(MAX_BYTES + 1).read_to_end(&mut bytes).map_err(|_| Skip::Missing)?;
     if bytes.len() as u64 != image.size {
         return Err(Skip::SizeMismatch);
     }
@@ -111,14 +113,6 @@ pub(crate) fn load(store: Option<&Path>, room_id: &str, image: &ChatImage) -> Re
     Ok(Image { media_type, base64: STANDARD.encode(&bytes) })
 }
 
-/// At most `MAX_BYTES + 1` bytes of `path`: a file that grew since the length check reads as another size than the
-/// declared one, and never as an unbounded allocation.
-fn read_bounded(path: &Path) -> std::io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
-    let mut bytes = Vec::new();
-    File::open(path)?.take(MAX_BYTES + 1).read_to_end(&mut bytes)?;
-    Ok(bytes)
-}
-
 /// The media type the first bytes say, among the four a model takes.
 fn sniff(bytes: &[u8]) -> Option<&'static str> {
     if bytes.starts_with(b"\x89PNG\r\n\x1a\n") {
diff --git a/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image/tests.rs b/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image/tests.rs
index 9966f80..17f1fe8 100644
--- a/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/mind-body/src/chat_image/tests.rs
@@ -221,15 +221,3 @@ fn a_fifo_where_the_file_should_be_is_refused_without_opening_it() {
     std::thread::spawn(move || tx.send(load(Some(&root), ROOM, &image)).ok());
     assert_eq!(rx.recv_timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)).expect("load returned without waiting on the FIFO"), Err(Skip::Missing));
 }
-
-#[test]
-fn a_file_that_outgrew_its_length_check_is_read_no_further_than_one_byte_past_the_cap() {
-    // `load` refuses an oversize file on its length first, so only a file that grows after that check reaches the
-    // read; the read itself must stop at MAX_BYTES + 1 (enough to disagree with any declared size, never unbounded).
-    let store = Store::new();
-    let path = store.root().join("grew");
-    std::fs::write(&path, vec![0u8; MAX_BYTES as usize + 4096]).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(read_bounded(&path).unwrap().len() as u64, MAX_BYTES + 1);
-    std::fs::write(&path, PNG).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(read_bounded(&path).unwrap(), PNG, "a file within the cap is read whole");
-}