diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index 8232ab77c0a..92208650b8c 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -8121,15 +8121,30 @@ async def get_session_latest_descendant(session_id: str):
     }
 
 @app.get("/api/sessions/{session_id}/messages")
-async def get_session_messages(session_id: str, profile: Optional[str] = None):
+async def get_session_messages(
+    session_id: str,
+    profile: Optional[str] = None,
+    limit: Optional[int] = None,
+    offset: int = 0,
+):
     db = _open_session_db_for_profile(profile)
     try:
         sid = db.resolve_session_id(session_id)
         if not sid:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Session not found")
         sid = db.resolve_resume_session_id(sid)
-        messages = db.get_messages(sid)
-        return {"session_id": sid, "messages": messages}
+        # Clamp limit to prevent abuse (max 500 per page)
+        _limit = min(limit, 500) if limit is not None else None
+        messages = db.get_messages(sid, limit=_limit, offset=offset)
+        return {
+            "session_id": sid,
+            "messages": messages,
+            "pagination": {
+                "limit": _limit,
+                "offset": offset,
+                "returned": len(messages),
+            },
+        }
     finally:
         db.close()
 
diff --git a/hermes_state.py b/hermes_state.py
index 3702623aac4..c30048b1974 100644
--- a/hermes_state.py
+++ b/hermes_state.py
@@ -3710,7 +3710,11 @@ class SessionDB:
 
 
     def get_messages(
-        self, session_id: str, include_inactive: bool = False
+        self,
+        session_id: str,
+        include_inactive: bool = False,
+        limit: Optional[int] = None,
+        offset: int = 0,
     ) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
         """Load messages for a session in insertion order.
 
@@ -3721,14 +3725,22 @@ class SessionDB:
 
         Ordered by AUTOINCREMENT id (true insertion order) rather than
         timestamp — see c03acca50 for the WSL2 clock-regression rationale.
+
+        When ``limit`` is provided, returns at most ``limit`` messages
+        starting from ``offset`` (0-based, in insertion order). Enables
+        pagination for the API endpoint to avoid loading entire transcripts.
         """
         active_clause = "" if include_inactive else " AND active = 1"
+        sql = (
+            "SELECT * FROM messages WHERE session_id = ?"
+            f"{active_clause} ORDER BY id"
+        )
+        params: list = [session_id]
+        if limit is not None:
+            sql += " LIMIT ? OFFSET ?"
+            params.extend([limit, offset])
         with self._lock:
-            cursor = self._conn.execute(
-                "SELECT * FROM messages WHERE session_id = ?"
-                f"{active_clause} ORDER BY id",
-                (session_id,),
-            )
+            cursor = self._conn.execute(sql, params)
             rows = cursor.fetchall()
         result = []
         for row in rows: