diff --git a/pkg/tools/send_file.go b/pkg/tools/send_file.go
index a67bd4210..57b99a845 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/send_file.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/send_file.go
@@ -133,9 +133,10 @@ func (t *SendFileTool) Execute(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) *ToolRe
 	scope := fmt.Sprintf("tool:send_file:%s:%s", channel, chatID)
 
 	ref, err := t.mediaStore.Store(resolved, media.MediaMeta{
-		Filename:    filename,
-		ContentType: mediaType,
-		Source:      "tool:send_file",
+		Filename:      filename,
+		ContentType:   mediaType,
+		Source:        "tool:send_file",
+		CleanupPolicy: media.CleanupPolicyForgetOnly,
 	}, scope)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ErrorResult(fmt.Sprintf("failed to register media: %v", err))
diff --git a/pkg/tools/send_file_test.go b/pkg/tools/send_file_test.go
index 6daaab31c..0a99e8028 100644
--- a/pkg/tools/send_file_test.go
+++ b/pkg/tools/send_file_test.go
@@ -104,6 +104,14 @@ func TestSendFileTool_Success(t *testing.T) {
 	if result.Media[0][:8] != "media://" {
 		t.Errorf("expected media:// ref, got %q", result.Media[0])
 	}
+
+	_, meta, err := store.ResolveWithMeta(result.Media[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolveWithMeta failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if meta.CleanupPolicy != media.CleanupPolicyForgetOnly {
+		t.Errorf("CleanupPolicy = %q, want %q", meta.CleanupPolicy, media.CleanupPolicyForgetOnly)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestSendFileTool_CustomFilename(t *testing.T) {