diff --git a/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/AutoMark.lua b/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/AutoMark.lua
index a462236..6c72d2c 100644
--- a/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/AutoMark.lua
+++ b/AutoMark/scripts/mods/AutoMark/AutoMark.lua
@@ -494,6 +494,21 @@ local function auto_mark_by_tag(tag_name, t, fixed_frame)
     local disabled_character_state_component = context.disabled_character_state_component
     local is_character_disabled = disabled_character_state_component and disabled_character_state_component.is_disabled and DISABLING_TYPES[disabled_character_state_component.disabling_type]
     local target_unit, target_tag, target_is_dormant_daemonhost
+    -- dead-target tag release: vanilla keeps the tag until the corpse despawns (up to the
+    -- template lifetime), which starves mark_limit; drop the tag as soon as the target dies
+    if marked_tag and not marked_tag_is_manual then
+        local marked_target = marked_tag._target_unit
+        if marked_target and HEALTH_ALIVE and not HEALTH_ALIVE[marked_target] then
+            local smart_tag_system = context.smart_tag_system
+            local player_unit = context.player and context.player.player_unit
+            if smart_tag_system and player_unit then
+                mod:print_debug("Auto Mark target dead, releasing tag")
+                smart_tag_system:cancel_tag(marked_tag._id, player_unit, true)
+                marked_tag = nil
+                tag_context.cooldown = 0
+            end
+        end
+    end
     if is_character_disabled and (tag_name == TAG_NAMES.COMPANION_TAG or tag_name == TAG_NAMES.SERVO_SKULL_TAG) then
         local disabling_unit = disabled_character_state_component and disabled_character_state_component.disabling_unit
         if disabling_unit and (not marked_tag or marked_tag._target_unit ~= disabling_unit) then