diff --git a/README.org b/README.org
index 48f8f5ad..7257ee24 100644
--- a/README.org
+++ b/README.org
@@ -944,6 +944,10 @@ Pixel data is rendered through Emacs's built-in image support: PNG payloads are
 decoded by a vendored stb_image, and raw RGB/RGBA/Gray/GrayAlpha transmissions
 are converted to PPM in the native module - no external ImageMagick dependency.
 
+Images need a graphical frame.  Buffers created in a terminal frame (=emacs
+-nw=, =emacsclient -t=) do not advertise the protocol, so apps that probe for
+it fall back to their own text rendering.
+
 XTWINOPS size queries (CSI 14 / 16 / 18 t) are answered so apps can detect
 graphics support and pick image dimensions; without that, =timg= falls back to
 half-block rendering even when =TERM_PROGRAM=ghostty=.
diff --git a/lisp/ghostel.el b/lisp/ghostel.el
index e18132a9..b7ad8923 100644
--- a/lisp/ghostel.el
+++ b/lisp/ghostel.el
@@ -5285,10 +5285,15 @@ spawn after initialization."
                               (if (window-live-p w)
                                   (window-max-chars-per-line w)
                                 80)))))
+      ;; A TTY frame cannot show images: disable the protocol so apps'
+      ;; support probes fail and they fall back to text rendering.
       (setq ghostel--term
             (ghostel--new height width
                           ghostel-max-scrollback
-                          ghostel-kitty-graphics-storage-limit
+                          (if (or (display-graphic-p (window-frame w))
+                                  (ghostel--daemon-dummy-frame-p (window-frame w)))
+                              ghostel-kitty-graphics-storage-limit
+                            0)
                           (ghostel--kitty-mediums-bits)))
       ;; Seed libghostty's cell dimensions before the process starts —
       ;; otherwise kitty graphics placements arriving in the very first
diff --git a/test/ghostel-exec-test.el b/test/ghostel-exec-test.el
index e7f4d65c..0873b91e 100644
--- a/test/ghostel-exec-test.el
+++ b/test/ghostel-exec-test.el
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ buffer eventually shows up."
           ;; Sanity: the buffer is not displayed in any window.
           (should-not (get-buffer-window buf t))
           (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'ghostel--load-module) #'ignore)
+                    ((symbol-function 'display-graphic-p) (lambda (&rest _) t))
                     ((symbol-function 'ghostel--new)
                      (lambda (&rest args) (setq captured args) 'fake-term))
                     ((symbol-function 'ghostel--set-size-with-cell-dims) #'ignore)
diff --git a/test/ghostel-kitty-test.el b/test/ghostel-kitty-test.el
index cc012e5f..51b7ce73 100644
--- a/test/ghostel-kitty-test.el
+++ b/test/ghostel-kitty-test.el
@@ -25,6 +25,30 @@ they do under a `default' face remap."
               ((symbol-function 'default-font-height) (lambda () 16)))
       (funcall body))))
 
+(defun ghostel-test--kitty-init-storage-limit (graphic &optional dummy)
+  "Return the storage limit `ghostel--init-buffer' passes on a GRAPHIC frame.
+DUMMY non-nil fakes the daemon's initial frame."
+  (let (limit)
+    (with-temp-buffer
+      (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'display-graphic-p) (lambda (&rest _) graphic))
+                ((symbol-function 'ghostel--daemon-dummy-frame-p) (lambda (_) dummy))
+                ((symbol-function 'ghostel--new)
+                 (lambda (_h _w _sb storage _mediums)
+                   (setq limit storage) 'fake-term))
+                ((symbol-function 'ghostel--set-size-with-cell-dims) #'ignore)
+                ((symbol-function 'ghostel--apply-palette) #'ignore)
+                ((symbol-function 'ghostel--apply-bold-config) #'ignore))
+        (ghostel--init-buffer (current-buffer) 24 80)))
+    limit))
+
+(ert-deftest ghostel-test-kitty-disabled-on-tty-frame ()
+  "A terminal frame creates the terminal with kitty graphics disabled."
+  (should (eql 0 (ghostel-test--kitty-init-storage-limit nil)))
+  (should (eql ghostel-kitty-graphics-storage-limit
+               (ghostel-test--kitty-init-storage-limit t)))
+  (should (eql ghostel-kitty-graphics-storage-limit
+               (ghostel-test--kitty-init-storage-limit nil t))))
+
 (ert-deftest ghostel-test-detect-cell-pixel-scale-standard-dpi ()
   "96 DPI display resolves to ~1.0 (no scaling)."
   (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'display-graphic-p) (lambda () t))