diff --git a/crates/engine/src/fonts.rs b/crates/engine/src/fonts.rs
index 672d4f2c..bdda411c 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/fonts.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/fonts.rs
@@ -64,16 +64,20 @@ pub fn missing(doc: &Document) -> Vec<Missing> {
     used.into_values().filter(|(family, _)| !figcraft_text::has_family(family)).map(|(family, layers)| Missing { family, layers }).collect()
 }
 
-/// Every string value of variable `id` in any mode, following aliases (at most 32 deep).
+/// Every string value of variable `id` in any mode, following aliases (each variable once).
 fn string_values(vars: &Variables, id: &str) -> Vec<String> {
     let mut out = Vec::new();
-    let mut todo = vec![(id.to_string(), 0)];
-    while let Some((id, depth)) = todo.pop() {
+    let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+    let mut todo = vec![id.to_string()];
+    while let Some(id) = todo.pop() {
+        if !seen.insert(id.clone()) {
+            continue;
+        }
         let Some(var) = vars.get(&id) else { continue };
         for v in var.values.values() {
             match v {
                 VariableValue::String(s) => out.push(s.clone()),
-                VariableValue::Alias(a) if depth < 32 => todo.push((a.clone(), depth + 1)),
+                VariableValue::Alias(a) => todo.push(a.clone()),
                 _ => {}
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/fonts_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/fonts_tests.rs
index 0fe6dcb3..5df9a854 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/fonts_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/fonts_tests.rs
@@ -119,6 +119,25 @@ fn blank_families_and_aliases_are_handled() {
     assert_eq!(families(&mut s), vec![("FigCraft Missing F".to_string(), 1), ("FigCraft Missing G".to_string(), 1)]);
 }
 
+/// Aliases in several modes are followed once per variable: a chain that branches in every mode
+/// would otherwise grow to billions of steps (a file can hold one).
+#[test]
+fn branching_alias_chains_are_walked_once_per_variable() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    s.execute("variable.createCollection", &json!({"name": "Type"})).unwrap();
+    for i in 0..32 {
+        s.execute("variable.create", &json!({"collection": "Type", "name": format!("V{i}"), "type": "string", "value": "x"})).unwrap();
+    }
+    let doc = s.doc_mut().unwrap();
+    let ids: Vec<String> = doc.variables.variables.iter().map(|v| v.id.clone()).collect();
+    for (i, var) in doc.variables.variables.iter_mut().enumerate() {
+        let next = ids.get(i + 1).cloned().unwrap_or_else(|| "FigCraft Missing H".into());
+        let leaf = |v: String| if i + 1 < ids.len() { VariableValue::Alias(v) } else { VariableValue::String(v) };
+        var.values = [("m1".to_string(), leaf(next.clone())), ("m2".to_string(), leaf(next))].into();
+    }
+    assert_eq!(string_values(&doc.variables, &ids[0]), vec!["FigCraft Missing H", "FigCraft Missing H"]);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn needs_an_open_document() {
     let mut s = Session::empty();