diff --git a/src/nene2/middleware/request_size_limit.py b/src/nene2/middleware/request_size_limit.py
index 610330f..59ea086 100644
--- a/src/nene2/middleware/request_size_limit.py
+++ b/src/nene2/middleware/request_size_limit.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """Request body size limit middleware.
 
-Rejects requests whose Content-Length exceeds the configured maximum.
-Protects against memory exhaustion from oversized payloads.
+Rejects requests whose body exceeds the configured maximum.
+Protects against memory exhaustion from oversized payloads, including
+chunked-transfer requests that omit the Content-Length header.
 """
 
 from starlette.middleware.base import BaseHTTPMiddleware, RequestResponseEndpoint
@@ -12,9 +13,16 @@
 
 _DEFAULT_MAX_BYTES = 1_048_576  # 1 MiB
 
+_TOO_LARGE = "Request body must not exceed {limit} bytes."
+
 
 class RequestSizeLimitMiddleware(BaseHTTPMiddleware):
-    """Reject requests whose Content-Length exceeds max_bytes."""
+    """Reject requests whose body exceeds max_bytes.
+
+    Checks the Content-Length header first for a fast pre-flight reject,
+    then reads the actual body to catch chunked-transfer requests that
+    omit Content-Length entirely.
+    """
 
     def __init__(self, app: object, *, max_bytes: int = _DEFAULT_MAX_BYTES) -> None:
         super().__init__(app)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
@@ -22,11 +30,23 @@ def __init__(self, app: object, *, max_bytes: int = _DEFAULT_MAX_BYTES) -> None:
 
     async def dispatch(self, request: Request, call_next: RequestResponseEndpoint) -> Response:
         content_length = request.headers.get("Content-Length")
-        if content_length is not None and int(content_length) > self._max_bytes:
-            return problem_details_response(
-                "payload-too-large",
-                "Payload Too Large",
-                413,
-                f"Request body must not exceed {self._max_bytes} bytes.",
-            )
+        if content_length is not None:
+            try:
+                if int(content_length) > self._max_bytes:
+                    return self._too_large()
+            except ValueError:
+                pass
+
+        body = await request.body()
+        if len(body) > self._max_bytes:
+            return self._too_large()
+
         return await call_next(request)
+
+    def _too_large(self) -> Response:
+        return problem_details_response(
+            "payload-too-large",
+            "Payload Too Large",
+            413,
+            _TOO_LARGE.format(limit=self._max_bytes),
+        )
diff --git a/tests/nene2/middleware/test_request_size_limit.py b/tests/nene2/middleware/test_request_size_limit.py
index 7125af8..619c72d 100644
--- a/tests/nene2/middleware/test_request_size_limit.py
+++ b/tests/nene2/middleware/test_request_size_limit.py
@@ -44,3 +44,25 @@ def test_no_content_length_passes() -> None:
     client = TestClient(_make_app(max_bytes=10_000))
     response = client.post("/upload", json={"data": "small"})
     assert response.status_code == 200
+
+
+def test_oversized_body_without_content_length_returns_413() -> None:
+    """Chunked-transfer (no Content-Length) must also be caught."""
+    client = TestClient(_make_app(max_bytes=100))
+    response = client.post(
+        "/upload",
+        content=b"x" * 200,
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/octet-stream"},
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 413
+
+
+def test_malformed_content_length_is_tolerated() -> None:
+    """Non-integer Content-Length header must not crash the middleware."""
+    client = TestClient(_make_app(max_bytes=1000))
+    response = client.post(
+        "/upload",
+        content=b"hello",
+        headers={"Content-Length": "abc", "Content-Type": "application/octet-stream"},
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 200