diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte
index a552c404..ed512c65 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte
@@ -151,16 +151,13 @@ onMount(() => {
 					// Nora #5618 #3 — separate issue tracks the GET /api/persons
 					// response-shape audit (PersonSummaryDTO leaks `notes`).
 					// ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-					items: async ({ query }: { query: string }) => {
-						if (!query) return [];
-						try {
-							const res = await fetch(`/api/persons?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`);
-							if (!res.ok) return [];
-							return ((await res.json()) as Person[]).slice(0, 5);
-						} catch {
-							return [];
-						}
-					},
+					// Tiptap's suggestion plugin requires an `items()` callback to keep
+					// the dropdown alive, but the actual fetch is owned by `runSearch`
+					// below — routed through the dropdown's search input via the
+					// debounced `onSearch` channel. Returning `[]` here keeps Tiptap
+					// happy without firing a duplicate per-keystroke fetch.
+					// Markus #5616 / Felix / Nora / Sara on PR #629.
+					items: async () => [],
 					// AC-1 fix: insert the typed query as displayName, not person.displayName.
 					command({ editor: ed, range, props }) {
 						const p = props as unknown as { personId: string; displayName: string };
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte.spec.ts
index 7d580f09..ddbde152 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/shared/discussion/PersonMentionEditor.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -195,6 +195,24 @@ describe('PersonMentionEditor — AC-2/3: search input drives fetch', () => {
 		expect(fetchesAfterSearch).toBe(1);
 	});
 
+	it('fires exactly one /api/persons fetch when the user types @Walter (debounced)', async () => {
+		const fetchMock = vi
+			.fn()
+			.mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, json: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([AUGUSTE]) });
+		vi.stubGlobal('fetch', fetchMock);
+		renderHost();
+
+		await userEvent.type(page.getByRole('textbox'), '@Walter');
+
+		// Wait beyond the 150 ms debounce window so the trailing call has flushed.
+		await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 300));
+
+		const personsFetches = fetchMock.mock.calls.filter(
+			([url]) => typeof url === 'string' && url.startsWith('/api/persons')
+		);
+		expect(personsFetches.length).toBe(1);
+	});
+
 	it('clearing the search input clears the list without firing a fetch', async () => {
 		const fetchMock = vi
 			.fn()