diff --git a/apps/docs/docs/workshop/homarr-provider.mdx b/apps/docs/docs/workshop/homarr-provider.mdx
index 7b770575f..3aa14a8d7 100644
--- a/apps/docs/docs/workshop/homarr-provider.mdx
+++ b/apps/docs/docs/workshop/homarr-provider.mdx
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ changing the user-facing provider. Each user signs in with GitHub and receives a
 
 - Each user starts with **50 request units per UTC day**.
 - Each model request uses one unit. Agent tool loops can make multiple model requests.
+- Once Workshop forwards a request, it uses one unit even if the upstream later fails. This prevents failed requests
+  from bypassing the shared cost and abuse limits.
 - The allowance resets at 00:00 UTC.
 
 The battery beside the model selector shows the remaining allowance and reset time. The Workshop server enforces the
diff --git a/apps/workshop/homarr_provider.go b/apps/workshop/homarr_provider.go
index c606c99ff..e53955cf2 100644
--- a/apps/workshop/homarr_provider.go
+++ b/apps/workshop/homarr_provider.go
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ var (
 	errProviderResponseTooLarge = errors.New("provider response is too large")
 	errInvalidTools             = errors.New("invalid request tools")
 	errUnsupportedTool          = errors.New("unsupported request tool")
+	errTooManyImages            = errors.New("too many images or image too large")
+	errInputTooLarge            = errors.New("request exceeds model input limit")
 )
 
 var clientControlledRoutingFields = []string{
@@ -224,7 +226,11 @@ func (provider *homarrProvider) chat(event *core.RequestEvent) error {
 		return event.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, openAIError("The request body is not valid OpenAI chat JSON."))
 	}
 	if err := validateProviderInput(payload); err != nil {
-		return event.JSON(http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge, openAIError(err.Error()))
+		message := "The request exceeds the Homarr model input limit."
+		if errors.Is(err, errTooManyImages) {
+			message = "The request contains too many images or an image that is too large."
+		}
+		return event.JSON(http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge, openAIError(message))
 	}
 	if err := sanitizeProviderPayload(payload, provider.modelID); err != nil {
 		message := "The request contains an unsupported tool."
@@ -238,6 +244,15 @@ func (provider *homarrProvider) chat(event *core.RequestEvent) error {
 		return event.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, openAIError("The request body could not be prepared."))
 	}
 
+	upstreamRequest, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(
+		event.Request.Context(),
+		http.MethodPost,
+		provider.baseURL+"/chat/completions",
+		bytes.NewReader(upstreamBody),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return event.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, openAIError("The Homarr provider request could not be prepared."))
+	}
 	snapshot, err := provider.startRequest(event.App, event.Auth)
 	if err != nil {
 		var quotaErr *quotaExceededError
@@ -249,15 +264,6 @@ func (provider *homarrProvider) chat(event *core.RequestEvent) error {
 		}
 		return event.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, openAIError("The Homarr provider request could not be started."))
 	}
-	upstreamRequest, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(
-		event.Request.Context(),
-		http.MethodPost,
-		provider.baseURL+"/chat/completions",
-		bytes.NewReader(upstreamBody),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		return event.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, openAIError("The Homarr provider request could not be prepared."))
-	}
 	upstreamRequest.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+provider.apiKey)
 	upstreamRequest.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	upstreamRequest.Header.Set("Accept", "text/event-stream, application/json")
@@ -376,13 +382,13 @@ func validateProviderInput(payload map[string]any) error {
 			if strings.HasPrefix(typed, "data:image/") {
 				imageCount++
 				if imageCount > maxChatImages || len(typed) > maxChatImageDataBytes {
-					return errors.New("The request contains too many images or an image that is too large.")
+					return errTooManyImages
 				}
 				return nil
 			}
 			textBytes += len(typed)
 			if textBytes > maxChatTextBytes {
-				return errors.New("The request exceeds the Homarr model input limit.")
+				return errInputTooLarge
 			}
 		case []any:
 			for _, item := range typed {
@@ -394,7 +400,7 @@ func validateProviderInput(payload map[string]any) error {
 			for key, item := range typed {
 				textBytes += len(key)
 				if textBytes > maxChatTextBytes {
-					return errors.New("The request exceeds the Homarr model input limit.")
+					return errInputTooLarge
 				}
 				if err := walk(item); err != nil {
 					return err
diff --git a/apps/workshop/homarr_provider_test.go b/apps/workshop/homarr_provider_test.go
index 50d1d5f45..8acb205f6 100644
--- a/apps/workshop/homarr_provider_test.go
+++ b/apps/workshop/homarr_provider_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
@@ -125,8 +126,18 @@ func TestValidateProviderInput(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected a supported Homarr image request, got %v", err)
 	}
 	payload["messages"] = []any{map[string]any{"role": "user", "content": strings.Repeat("x", maxChatTextBytes+1)}}
-	if err := validateProviderInput(payload); err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected oversized text input to be rejected")
+	if err := validateProviderInput(payload); !errors.Is(err, errInputTooLarge) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected oversized text input to be rejected, got %v", err)
+	}
+	payload["messages"] = []any{map[string]any{
+		"role": "user",
+		"content": []any{map[string]any{
+			"type":      "image_url",
+			"image_url": map[string]any{"url": "data:image/png;base64," + strings.Repeat("a", maxChatImageDataBytes)},
+		}},
+	}}
+	if err := validateProviderInput(payload); !errors.Is(err, errTooManyImages) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected oversized image input to be rejected, got %v", err)
 	}
 }