diff --git a/imessage-mcp/src/tools/send-message.ts b/imessage-mcp/src/tools/send-message.ts
index c9f7919..83f2543 100644
--- a/imessage-mcp/src/tools/send-message.ts
+++ b/imessage-mcp/src/tools/send-message.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ interface SendMessageParams {
   delay_seconds?: number;
 }
 
-const MAX_HOURLY = 15;
+const MAX_PER_MINUTE = 2;
+const MAX_HOURLY = 120;
 const MAX_DAILY = 150;
 
 // Schema: macsync.send_queue (uuid id, device_id uuid, to_handle, body, status,
@@ -52,14 +53,21 @@ export async function sendMessage(params: SendMessageParams): Promise<string> {
   }
 
   // Rate limits — count rows queued/sent in the windows. Cancelled doesn't
-  // burn quota.
+  // burn quota. Three tiers: per-minute (burst cap), hourly, daily.
+  const minuteAgo = new Date(Date.now() - 60_000).toISOString();
   const hourAgo = new Date(Date.now() - 3600_000).toISOString();
   const dayStart = new Date();
   dayStart.setHours(0, 0, 0, 0);
 
+  let minuteCount: number;
   let hourlyCount: number;
   let dailyCount: number;
   try {
+    const minuteResult = await query(
+      `SELECT COUNT(*)::int AS count FROM macsync.send_queue
+       WHERE created_at > $1 AND status <> 'cancelled'`,
+      [minuteAgo],
+    );
     const hourlyResult = await query(
       `SELECT COUNT(*)::int AS count FROM macsync.send_queue
        WHERE created_at > $1 AND status <> 'cancelled'`,
@@ -70,6 +78,7 @@ export async function sendMessage(params: SendMessageParams): Promise<string> {
        WHERE created_at > $1 AND status <> 'cancelled'`,
       [dayStart.toISOString()],
     );
+    minuteCount = (minuteResult.rows[0]?.count as number) ?? 0;
     hourlyCount = (hourlyResult.rows[0]?.count as number) ?? 0;
     dailyCount = (dailyResult.rows[0]?.count as number) ?? 0;
   } catch (err) {
@@ -77,9 +86,14 @@ export async function sendMessage(params: SendMessageParams): Promise<string> {
     throw new Error(`send_message: rate-limit query failed (${msg})`);
   }
 
+  const minuteRemaining = Math.max(0, MAX_PER_MINUTE - minuteCount);
   const hourlyRemaining = Math.max(0, MAX_HOURLY - hourlyCount);
   const dailyRemaining = Math.max(0, MAX_DAILY - dailyCount);
 
+  if (minuteRemaining === 0) {
+    return `Rate limit exceeded: ${MAX_PER_MINUTE} messages per minute (burst cap). Try again in ~30s.`;
+  }
+
   if (hourlyRemaining === 0) {
     return `Rate limit exceeded: ${MAX_HOURLY} messages per hour. Try again later.`;
   }
@@ -97,7 +111,7 @@ export async function sendMessage(params: SendMessageParams): Promise<string> {
       `To: ${displayRecipient}`,
       `Body: ${body}`,
       '',
-      `Rate limits: ${hourlyRemaining}/${MAX_HOURLY} hourly, ${dailyRemaining}/${MAX_DAILY} daily`,
+      `Rate limits: ${minuteRemaining}/${MAX_PER_MINUTE} per-min, ${hourlyRemaining}/${MAX_HOURLY} hourly, ${dailyRemaining}/${MAX_DAILY} daily`,
       '',
       'To send this message, call send_message again with confirm: true',
     ].join('\n');