diff --git a/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go b/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go
index 6809d7e..17a9d34 100644
--- a/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go
+++ b/apps/api/internal/runner/queue_worker.go
@@ -97,7 +97,11 @@ func (s *Service) startRiverQueue(ctx context.Context) error {
 		Logger:                      s.logger,
 		CompletedJobRetentionPeriod: 24 * time.Hour,
 		Queues: map[string]river.QueueConfig{
-			asyncTaskQueueName: {MaxWorkers: 32},
+			// Image providers may hold a worker while polling for several
+			// minutes. Keep enough workers available for production bursts so
+			// unrelated models do not remain queued behind long-running media
+			// tasks.
+			asyncTaskQueueName: {MaxWorkers: 64},
 		},
 		// Provider-backed media jobs commonly poll for 10-20 minutes. River may
 		// execute a still-running job again once this window elapses, so keep the