diff --git a/auth.go b/auth.go
index 3a5dc5c..5710ada 100644
--- a/auth.go
+++ b/auth.go
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ func newAuthStore(cfg *Config) (*authStore, error) {
 		nowFn:    time.Now,
 	}
 	for name, gc := range cfg.Groups {
+		if err := gc.Limits.validate(); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: group %q: %w", name, err)
+		}
 		a.groups[name] = &group{
 			limits:     gc.Limits,
 			name:       name,
@@ -155,6 +158,9 @@ func (a *authStore) buildEntry(uc *UserConfig) (*authEntry, error) {
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: user %q references unknown group %q", uc.Name, uc.Group)
 	}
+	if err := uc.Limits.validate(); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: user %q: %w", uc.Name, err)
+	}
 	key, err := resolveSecret(uc.APIKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: user %q: %w", uc.Name, err)
diff --git a/limits.go b/limits.go
index d7ae3ed..c2a7144 100644
--- a/limits.go
+++ b/limits.go
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
+// storeErrorLogEvery bounds how often the limiter logs a configured
+// store's operation error: once per this interval, regardless of how many
+// operations fail in between. A backend outage under load must not flood
+// the log with one line per request.
+const storeErrorLogEvery = 30 * time.Second
+
 // Window identifiers used throughout windowKey, counter metrics, and
 // retry-after calculation.
 const (
@@ -47,6 +53,52 @@ func usdToMicros(usd float64) int64 {
 	return int64(math.Round(usd * usdToMicroFactor))
 }
 
+// validate reports an error if lc holds a negative int64 count limit, or a
+// cost limit that is negative, NaN, or ±Inf. A nil lc (no limits
+// configured) is valid. Without this check, a negative int64 limit would
+// silently behave as unlimited — every enforcement path below treats
+// limit<=0 as "no limit" — and a NaN/Inf cost limit would propagate
+// through usdToMicros into meaningless comparisons instead of failing
+// loudly at construction time. Called by newAuthStore for every group's
+// and every user's LimitsConfig, so a malformed limit is a constructor
+// error rather than a silent misconfiguration.
+func (lc *LimitsConfig) validate() error {
+	if lc == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	counts := []struct {
+		name string
+		v    int64
+	}{
+		{"requestsPerMinute", lc.RequestsPerMinute},
+		{"requestsPerDay", lc.RequestsPerDay},
+		{"tokensPerDay", lc.TokensPerDay},
+		{"tokensPerMonth", lc.TokensPerMonth},
+	}
+	for _, c := range counts {
+		if c.v < 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: limits: %s must not be negative, got %d", c.name, c.v)
+		}
+	}
+
+	costs := []struct {
+		name string
+		v    float64
+	}{
+		{"costPerDayUSD", lc.CostPerDayUSD},
+		{"costPerMonthUSD", lc.CostPerMonthUSD},
+	}
+	for _, c := range costs {
+		if math.IsNaN(c.v) || math.IsInf(c.v, 0) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: limits: %s must be a finite number, got %v", c.name, c.v)
+		}
+		if c.v < 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: limits: %s must not be negative, got %v", c.name, c.v)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // counterStore is the storage backend the limiter uses for atomic windowed
 // counters. memoryStore (below) is the in-process fallback; a distributed
 // (e.g. Redis-backed) implementation is wired in a later task.
@@ -171,33 +223,41 @@ type limitScope struct {
 type limitViolation struct {
 	message string
 	// retryAfter is the number of seconds until the violated window ends
-	// — until the client can plausibly succeed again.
+	// — until the client can plausibly succeed again. Left at its zero
+	// value for a storeDown violation, which carries no meaningful window.
 	retryAfter int
 	// storeDown reports whether the violation was manufactured because the
-	// configured counterStore was unreachable, rather than an actual limit
-	// breach. Always false in this task; a later task wires failOpen /
-	// fail-closed handling for a real remote store.
+	// configured counterStore was unreachable and failOpen is false,
+	// rather than an actual limit breach. Callers map this to an HTTP 503
+	// instead of 429 (Task 12).
 	storeDown bool
 }
 
 // limiter enforces per-minute/day/month request, token, and cost limits
 // using fixed windows keyed by windowKey.
 type limiter struct {
-	store    counterStore     // nil means always use fallback (see newLimiter)
-	fallback *memoryStore     // in-process counter store, always available
-	nowFn    func() time.Time // injected for tests; defaults to time.Now
-	failOpen bool             // wired for a later task's store-down handling
+	store     counterStore                     // configured backend; nil means always use fallback (see newLimiter)
+	fallback  *memoryStore                     // in-process counter store, always available
+	nowFn     func() time.Time                 // injected for tests; defaults to time.Now
+	logf      func(format string, args ...any) // injectable store-error log; defaults to a no-op
+	lastLogAt time.Time                        // guarded by logMu; last time a store error was logged
+	logMu     sync.Mutex
+	failOpen  bool // store-error policy: true falls back to fallback, false refuses the request
 }
 
 // newLimiter returns a limiter. A nil store means every operation uses the
 // limiter's own in-process fallback memoryStore — the plugin still
 // enforces limits with no distributed backend configured, just without
-// sharing counters across Traefik instances.
+// sharing counters across Traefik instances. failOpen governs what happens
+// when a non-nil store errors: true silently falls back to the in-process
+// memoryStore for that operation, false refuses the request (see
+// storeIncrBy / storeGet).
 func newLimiter(store counterStore, failOpen bool) *limiter {
 	return &limiter{
 		store:    store,
 		fallback: newMemoryStore(),
 		nowFn:    time.Now,
+		logf:     func(string, ...any) {},
 		failOpen: failOpen,
 	}
 }
@@ -207,13 +267,71 @@ func (l *limiter) now() time.Time {
 	return l.nowFn()
 }
 
-// activeStore returns the store operations should use: the configured
-// store when set, otherwise the in-process fallback.
-func (l *limiter) activeStore() counterStore {
-	if l.store != nil {
-		return l.store
+// logStoreError logs err via l.logf, rate-limited to once per
+// storeErrorLogEvery regardless of how many store operations fail in
+// between.
+func (l *limiter) logStoreError(err error) {
+	now := l.now()
+	l.logMu.Lock()
+	shouldLog := now.Sub(l.lastLogAt) >= storeErrorLogEvery
+	if shouldLog {
+		l.lastLogAt = now
 	}
-	return l.fallback
+	l.logMu.Unlock()
+	if shouldLog {
+		l.logf("limit store error: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// storeIncrBy increments key by n with the given ttl, applying the
+// limiter's fail-open/fail-closed policy when a configured store errors.
+// ok is false only when the store errored and failOpen is false — the
+// fail-closed case a caller must refuse the request for, rather than
+// treating a zero value as a real counter reading.
+func (l *limiter) storeIncrBy(key string, n int64, ttl time.Duration) (v int64, ok bool) {
+	if l.store == nil {
+		v, _ = l.fallback.incrBy(key, n, ttl) // fallback never errors
+		return v, true
+	}
+	v, err := l.store.incrBy(key, n, ttl)
+	if err == nil {
+		return v, true
+	}
+	l.logStoreError(err)
+	if !l.failOpen {
+		return 0, false
+	}
+	v, _ = l.fallback.incrBy(key, n, ttl)
+	return v, true
+}
+
+// storeGet mirrors storeIncrBy for a read: it applies the same fail-open
+// (transparently reads the fallback) / fail-closed (ok=false) policy on a
+// configured store's error.
+func (l *limiter) storeGet(key string) (v int64, ok bool) {
+	if l.store == nil {
+		v, _ = l.fallback.get(key)
+		return v, true
+	}
+	v, err := l.store.get(key)
+	if err == nil {
+		return v, true
+	}
+	l.logStoreError(err)
+	if !l.failOpen {
+		return 0, false
+	}
+	v, _ = l.fallback.get(key)
+	return v, true
+}
+
+// storeDownViolation is the violation checkAndCount/budgetViolation return
+// when the configured store is unreachable and failOpen is false: the
+// request is refused instead of silently enforcing limits against a
+// non-shared fallback, so a backend outage cannot let every configured
+// limit go unenforced across a fleet of gateway instances.
+func storeDownViolation() *limitViolation {
+	return &limitViolation{message: "limit store unavailable", storeDown: true}
 }
 
 // windowKey builds the counterStore key for one (kind, id, metric, window)
@@ -265,20 +383,19 @@ func retryAfterSeconds(t time.Time, window string) int {
 }
 
 // incrCounter increments the (kind, id, metric, window) counter at t by n
-// and returns its new value. A store error is treated as "no increment
-// observed" — the fallback memoryStore never errors, and a real store's
-// fail-open/fail-closed policy is wired in a later task.
-func (l *limiter) incrCounter(kind, id, metric, window string, t time.Time, n int64, ttl time.Duration) int64 {
-	v, err := l.activeStore().incrBy(windowKey(kind, id, metric, window, t), n, ttl)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0
-	}
-	return v
+// and returns its new value, together with whether the operation
+// succeeded under the limiter's fail-open/fail-closed policy (see
+// storeIncrBy). ok is false only in the fail-closed case: a configured
+// store errored and failOpen is false.
+func (l *limiter) incrCounter(kind, id, metric, window string, t time.Time, n int64, ttl time.Duration) (int64, bool) {
+	return l.storeIncrBy(windowKey(kind, id, metric, window, t), n, ttl)
 }
 
-// getCounter returns the (kind, id, metric, window) counter's value at t.
-func (l *limiter) getCounter(kind, id, metric, window string, t time.Time) (int64, error) {
-	return l.activeStore().get(windowKey(kind, id, metric, window, t))
+// getCounter returns the (kind, id, metric, window) counter's value at t,
+// together with whether the read succeeded under the limiter's fail-open/
+// fail-closed policy (see storeGet).
+func (l *limiter) getCounter(kind, id, metric, window string, t time.Time) (int64, bool) {
+	return l.storeGet(windowKey(kind, id, metric, window, t))
 }
 
 // checkAndCount increments every scope's req:min and req:day counters —
@@ -286,7 +403,10 @@ func (l *limiter) getCounter(kind, id, metric, window string, t time.Time) (int6
 // gets refused by one scope's limit still counts toward every other
 // scope's rate tracking — then evaluates each scope's set limits in order
 // and returns the first violation found, or nil if the request may
-// proceed.
+// proceed. If any store operation fails closed (a configured store errored
+// and failOpen is false), it returns a storeDownViolation immediately —
+// the request is refused rather than evaluated against partial or
+// fallback-only counters.
 //
 // Requests limits compare against the value just incremented in this call.
 // Token and cost limits compare against the value already accumulated by
@@ -299,8 +419,17 @@ func (l *limiter) checkAndCount(scopes []limitScope) *limitViolation {
 	minCounts := make([]int64, len(scopes))
 	dayCounts := make([]int64, len(scopes))
 	for i, sc := range scopes {
-		minCounts[i] = l.incrCounter(sc.kind, sc.id, metricReq, windowMin, now, 1, minWindowTTL)
-		dayCounts[i] = l.incrCounter(sc.kind, sc.id, metricReq, windowDay, now, 1, dayWindowTTL)
+		v, ok := l.incrCounter(sc.kind, sc.id, metricReq, windowMin, now, 1, minWindowTTL)
+		if !ok {
+			return storeDownViolation()
+		}
+		minCounts[i] = v
+
+		v, ok = l.incrCounter(sc.kind, sc.id, metricReq, windowDay, now, 1, dayWindowTTL)
+		if !ok {
+			return storeDownViolation()
+		}
+		dayCounts[i] = v
 	}
 
 	for i, sc := range scopes {
@@ -357,15 +486,19 @@ func requestLimitViolation(sc limitScope, name string, limit, count int64, windo
 
 // budgetViolation reports a violation when the scope's accumulated
 // counter for metric/window is already at or above limit. limit<=0 means
-// unlimited. A store read error fails open — no violation reported —
-// consistent with this task's storeDown always being false; a later task
-// wires strict fail-closed handling for a real remote store.
+// unlimited. A failed-closed read (configured store errored, failOpen
+// false) returns storeDownViolation rather than silently passing the
+// check — a store outage must never look the same as staying under
+// budget.
 func (l *limiter) budgetViolation(sc limitScope, metric, name string, limit int64, window string, now time.Time) *limitViolation {
 	if limit <= 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
-	used, err := l.getCounter(sc.kind, sc.id, metric, window, now)
-	if err != nil || used < limit {
+	used, ok := l.getCounter(sc.kind, sc.id, metric, window, now)
+	if !ok {
+		return storeDownViolation()
+	}
+	if used < limit {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return &limitViolation{
@@ -376,7 +509,11 @@ func (l *limiter) budgetViolation(sc limitScope, metric, name string, limit int6
 
 // account records u's total tokens and costMicros against every scope's
 // day and month counters. A zero-valued metric is skipped entirely — no
-// store write for a metric this call has nothing to report.
+// store write for a metric this call has nothing to report. A sample that
+// hits a fail-closed store error (see storeIncrBy) is dropped silently:
+// account has no error return to signal it, and dropping — rather than
+// counting it in the fallback — avoids double-counting once the store
+// recovers.
 func (l *limiter) account(scopes []limitScope, u usage, costMicros int64) {
 	now := l.now()
 	total := u.total()
diff --git a/limits_test.go b/limits_test.go
index 69ccd5d..b8d4226 100644
--- a/limits_test.go
+++ b/limits_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package traefikllmgateway
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"math"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -308,12 +311,233 @@ func TestAccountSkipsZeroMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 
 	l.account(scopes, usage{}, 0)
 
-	tok, err := l.getCounter("user", "z", metricTok, windowDay, now)
-	if err != nil || tok != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("tok counter = %d, %v, want 0, nil", tok, err)
+	tok, ok := l.getCounter("user", "z", metricTok, windowDay, now)
+	if !ok || tok != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("tok counter = %d, ok=%v, want 0, true", tok, ok)
 	}
-	cost, err := l.getCounter("user", "z", metricCost, windowDay, now)
-	if err != nil || cost != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("cost counter = %d, %v, want 0, nil", cost, err)
+	cost, ok := l.getCounter("user", "z", metricCost, windowDay, now)
+	if !ok || cost != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("cost counter = %d, ok=%v, want 0, true", cost, ok)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiterRequestPerDayLimit is carried-item (b): a per-day request
+// limit blocks once the day's count exceeds it, independent of the
+// (unset, unlimited) per-minute limit.
+func TestLimiterRequestPerDayLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 8, 20, 10, 0, 30, 0, time.UTC)
+	l := newLimiter(nil, true)
+	l.nowFn = func() time.Time { return now }
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "a", limits: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerDay: 2}}}
+
+	if v := l.checkAndCount(scopes); v != nil {
+		t.Fatal("1st should pass")
+	}
+	if v := l.checkAndCount(scopes); v != nil {
+		t.Fatal("2nd should pass")
+	}
+	v := l.checkAndCount(scopes)
+	if v == nil {
+		t.Fatal("3rd should violate the day limit")
+	}
+	if v.storeDown {
+		t.Error("storeDown must be false for a real limit breach")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiterTokensPerMonthBudget mirrors TestLimiterTokenBudget for the
+// month window: accounting tokens past a month budget makes the next
+// check refuse.
+func TestLimiterTokensPerMonthBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	l := newLimiter(nil, true)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "group", id: "g", limits: &LimitsConfig{TokensPerMonth: 100}}}
+	l.account(scopes, usage{prompt: 60, completion: 50}, 0) // 110 > 100
+	if v := l.checkAndCount(scopes); v == nil {
+		t.Fatal("over month token budget must refuse")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiterCostPerMonthBudget mirrors TestLimiterCostBudget for the
+// month window, and checks the violation carries the month window's
+// Retry-After.
+func TestLimiterCostPerMonthBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 8, 20, 10, 0, 30, 0, time.UTC)
+	l := newLimiter(nil, true)
+	l.nowFn = func() time.Time { return now }
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: &LimitsConfig{CostPerMonthUSD: 1.00}}}
+
+	l.account(scopes, usage{}, 1_500_000) // $1.50 > $1.00 budget
+	v := l.checkAndCount(scopes)
+	if v == nil {
+		t.Fatal("over month cost budget must refuse")
+	}
+	wantRetry := int(time.Date(2026, 9, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC).Sub(now).Seconds())
+	if v.retryAfter != wantRetry {
+		t.Errorf("retryAfter = %d, want %d (seconds to next UTC month start)", v.retryAfter, wantRetry)
+	}
+	if v.storeDown {
+		t.Error("storeDown must be false for a real limit breach")
+	}
+}
+
+// erroringStore is a counterStore stub that always fails, used to test the
+// limiter's fail-open/fail-closed handling on a store error without a
+// real network dependency (see redis_store_test.go for the equivalent
+// end-to-end test against an unreachable redisStore).
+type erroringStore struct {
+	err error
+}
+
+func (s *erroringStore) incrBy(string, int64, time.Duration) (int64, error) { return 0, s.err }
+func (s *erroringStore) get(string) (int64, error)                          { return 0, s.err }
+
+// TestLimiter_FailOpen_StoreErrorUsesFallback is carried-item (c): a store
+// error with failOpen=true must not block the request — the operation
+// transparently falls back to the limiter's in-process memoryStore, and
+// the fallback counter actually advances (proving the write really
+// happened somewhere, not just that no violation was reported).
+func TestLimiter_FailOpen_StoreErrorUsesFallback(t *testing.T) {
+	store := &erroringStore{err: errors.New("boom")}
+	l := newLimiter(store, true)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerMinute: 100}}}
+
+	if v := l.checkAndCount(scopes); v != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("want no violation with failOpen=true on a store error, got %+v", v)
+	}
+	got, err := l.fallback.get(windowKey("user", "u", metricReq, windowDay, l.now()))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback.get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("fallback req:day counter = %d, want 1", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiter_FailClosed_StoreErrorReturnsStoreDownViolation is
+// carried-item (c): failOpen=false refuses the request outright on a
+// store error, rather than silently using the fallback.
+func TestLimiter_FailClosed_StoreErrorReturnsStoreDownViolation(t *testing.T) {
+	store := &erroringStore{err: errors.New("boom")}
+	l := newLimiter(store, false)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerMinute: 100}}}
+
+	v := l.checkAndCount(scopes)
+	if v == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want a storeDown violation on a store error with failOpen=false")
+	}
+	if !v.storeDown {
+		t.Error("v.storeDown = false, want true")
+	}
+	if v.message != "limit store unavailable" {
+		t.Errorf("v.message = %q, want %q", v.message, "limit store unavailable")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiter_FailClosed_BudgetReadReturnsStoreDownViolation covers the
+// budgetViolation fail-closed path specifically (as opposed to the
+// request-counter incrCounter path covered above): a store error on a
+// token/cost budget read also refuses the request when failOpen is false.
+func TestLimiter_FailClosed_BudgetReadReturnsStoreDownViolation(t *testing.T) {
+	store := &erroringStore{err: errors.New("boom")}
+	l := newLimiter(store, false)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: &LimitsConfig{TokensPerDay: 100}}}
+
+	v := l.checkAndCount(scopes)
+	if v == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want a storeDown violation on a store error with failOpen=false")
+	}
+	if !v.storeDown {
+		t.Error("v.storeDown = false, want true")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiter_FailClosed_AccountDropsSampleOnStoreError asserts account
+// drops a sample entirely — writes it nowhere — when failOpen=false and
+// the store errors, rather than falling back to counting it locally (which
+// would double-count once the store recovers). account has no error
+// return to signal the drop, so this is observed via the fallback staying
+// at 0.
+func TestLimiter_FailClosed_AccountDropsSampleOnStoreError(t *testing.T) {
+	store := &erroringStore{err: errors.New("boom")}
+	l := newLimiter(store, false)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: nil}}
+
+	l.account(scopes, usage{prompt: 10, completion: 10}, 500)
+
+	got, err := l.fallback.get(windowKey("user", "u", metricTok, windowDay, l.now()))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback.get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("fallback tok:day counter = %d, want 0 (sample must be dropped, not counted locally)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiter_LogsStoreErrorOncePerRateLimit asserts a store error is
+// logged via the limiter's injectable log func, rate-limited to once per
+// storeErrorLogEvery — a store outage under load must not flood the log
+// with one line per request, however many store operations fail within
+// the window.
+func TestLimiter_LogsStoreErrorOncePerRateLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	store := &erroringStore{err: errors.New("boom")}
+	l := newLimiter(store, true)
+	now := time.Date(2026, 8, 20, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	l.nowFn = func() time.Time { return now }
+
+	var logged []string
+	l.logf = func(format string, args ...any) { logged = append(logged, fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)) }
+
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: nil}}
+
+	l.checkAndCount(scopes) // two store ops (min, day) within one call
+	if len(logged) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("logged = %d lines after the first checkAndCount, want 1 (rate-limited)", len(logged))
+	}
+
+	l.checkAndCount(scopes) // still inside the rate-limit window
+	if len(logged) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("logged = %d lines after a second call inside the window, want 1", len(logged))
+	}
+
+	now = now.Add(storeErrorLogEvery)
+	l.checkAndCount(scopes)
+	if len(logged) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("logged = %d lines after the rate-limit window elapsed, want 2", len(logged))
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimitsConfigValidate is carried-item (a): validate rejects
+// NaN/±Inf/negative cost limits and negative int64 count limits, accepts
+// zero/positive values, and treats a nil receiver (no limits configured
+// at all) as valid.
+func TestLimitsConfigValidate(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		lc      *LimitsConfig
+		name    string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{name: "nil is valid", lc: nil, wantErr: false},
+		{name: "zero value is valid", lc: &LimitsConfig{}, wantErr: false},
+		{name: "positive values are valid", lc: &LimitsConfig{
+			RequestsPerMinute: 1, RequestsPerDay: 1, TokensPerDay: 1, TokensPerMonth: 1,
+			CostPerDayUSD: 1.5, CostPerMonthUSD: 1.5,
+		}, wantErr: false},
+		{name: "negative RequestsPerMinute", lc: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerMinute: -1}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "negative RequestsPerDay", lc: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerDay: -1}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "negative TokensPerDay", lc: &LimitsConfig{TokensPerDay: -1}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "negative TokensPerMonth", lc: &LimitsConfig{TokensPerMonth: -1}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "negative CostPerDayUSD", lc: &LimitsConfig{CostPerDayUSD: -0.01}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "negative CostPerMonthUSD", lc: &LimitsConfig{CostPerMonthUSD: -0.01}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "NaN CostPerDayUSD", lc: &LimitsConfig{CostPerDayUSD: math.NaN()}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "+Inf CostPerMonthUSD", lc: &LimitsConfig{CostPerMonthUSD: math.Inf(1)}, wantErr: true},
+		{name: "-Inf CostPerDayUSD", lc: &LimitsConfig{CostPerDayUSD: math.Inf(-1)}, wantErr: true},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := c.lc.validate()
+			if (err != nil) != c.wantErr {
+				t.Errorf("validate() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, c.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/llmgateway.go b/llmgateway.go
index fac0c5b..e1b18e4 100644
--- a/llmgateway.go
+++ b/llmgateway.go
@@ -101,12 +101,13 @@ func CreateConfig() *Config {
 
 // Gateway is the Traefik middleware handler.
 type Gateway struct {
-	next http.Handler
-	cfg  *Config
-	auth *authStore
-	name string
-	// wired in later tasks: limiter *limiter, registry *modelRegistry,
-	// adapters map[string]providerAdapter
+	next    http.Handler
+	cfg     *Config
+	auth    *authStore
+	limiter *limiter
+	name    string
+	// wired in later tasks: registry *modelRegistry, adapters
+	// map[string]providerAdapter
 }
 
 // New creates the middleware. NOTE: no tail call — Yaegi zeroes
@@ -130,14 +131,58 @@ func newGateway(ctx context.Context, next http.Handler, config *Config, name str
 	g := &Gateway{next: next, name: name, cfg: config, auth: auth}
 
 	if config.Users != nil && config.Users.File != "" {
-		if err := attachUsersFile(auth, config.Users.File, g); err != nil {
+		if err = attachUsersFile(auth, config.Users.File, g); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 
+	lim, err := newConfiguredLimiter(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	lim.logf = g.errorf
+	g.limiter = lim
+
+	setPricingWarnFn(func(msg string) {
+		if msg == warnCapMessage {
+			g.logf("%s", msg)
+			return
+		}
+		g.logf("pricing: no price configured for model %q; cost will be recorded as 0", msg)
+	})
+
 	return g, nil
 }
 
+// newConfiguredLimiter builds the limiter for config, wiring config.Redis
+// when set. A configured Redis block wires a respClient-backed redisStore
+// behind AUTH/SELECT and resolveSecret'd credentials; otherwise the
+// limiter runs on its in-process fallback alone. failOpen defaults to
+// true (a Redis outage must not take the whole gateway down unless an
+// operator opts into strict enforcement) unless RedisConfig.FailOpen is
+// explicitly set.
+func newConfiguredLimiter(config *Config) (*limiter, error) {
+	if config.Redis == nil {
+		return newLimiter(nil, true), nil
+	}
+	if config.Redis.Address == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("llmgateway: redis: address must not be empty")
+	}
+
+	password, err := resolveSecret(config.Redis.Password)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("llmgateway: redis: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	failOpen := true
+	if config.Redis.FailOpen != nil {
+		failOpen = *config.Redis.FailOpen
+	}
+
+	client := newRESPClient(config.Redis.Address, password, config.Redis.DB)
+	return newLimiter(newRedisStore(client), failOpen), nil
+}
+
 // attachUsersFile performs the synchronous initial load of a Users.File path
 // and wires auth up for throttled hot reload. A failing initial load is a
 // constructor error — fail fast on bad config rather than start with an
diff --git a/llmgateway_test.go b/llmgateway_test.go
index 2435fbe..0076295 100644
--- a/llmgateway_test.go
+++ b/llmgateway_test.go
@@ -416,3 +416,222 @@ func TestServeHTTP_TriggersUsersFileReload(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("want ServeHTTP's entry-time maybeReload call to have picked up the file change")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestNewGateway_RejectsInvalidGroupLimits is carried-item (a): a negative
+// limit value in a group's LimitsConfig must fail plugin construction, not
+// silently behave as unlimited.
+func TestNewGateway_RejectsInvalidGroupLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Groups = map[string]*GroupConfig{"default": {Limits: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerDay: -1}}}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	if _, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want constructor error for a negative group limit")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RejectsInvalidUserLimits mirrors the group case for an
+// inline user's own limits override.
+func TestNewGateway_RejectsInvalidUserLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Groups = map[string]*GroupConfig{"default": {}}
+	cfg.Users = &UsersConfig{Inline: []*UserConfig{
+		{Name: "a", Group: "default", APIKey: "sk-a", Limits: &LimitsConfig{CostPerMonthUSD: -1}},
+	}}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	if _, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want constructor error for a negative user limit")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RejectsInvalidFileUserLimits covers the file-sourced user
+// path (attachUsersFile -> replaceFileUsers -> buildEntry), the other
+// caller of LimitsConfig.validate besides newAuthStore's inline loop.
+func TestNewGateway_RejectsInvalidFileUserLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	fp := filepath.Join(dir, "users.json")
+	writeUsersDoc(t, fp, []*UserConfig{
+		{Name: "f", Group: "default", APIKey: "sk-f", Limits: &LimitsConfig{TokensPerDay: -1}},
+	}, time.Time{})
+
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Groups = map[string]*GroupConfig{"default": {}}
+	cfg.Users = &UsersConfig{File: fp}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	if _, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want constructor error for a negative file-sourced user limit")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_NoRedis_UsesMemoryLimiterFailOpenDefaultTrue is
+// carried-item (d)'s "else" branch: no Redis configured wires
+// newLimiter(nil, true) — a nil store (memoryStore fallback only) and
+// failOpen defaulted true.
+func TestNewGateway_NoRedis_UsesMemoryLimiterFailOpenDefaultTrue(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	h, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New: %v", err)
+	}
+	gw := h.(*Gateway)
+	if gw.limiter == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want a non-nil limiter")
+	}
+	if gw.limiter.store != nil {
+		t.Errorf("gw.limiter.store = %#v, want nil (no Redis configured)", gw.limiter.store)
+	}
+	if !gw.limiter.failOpen {
+		t.Error("gw.limiter.failOpen = false, want true (default)")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RedisConfigured_WiresRedisStoreAndFailOpen is
+// carried-item (d)'s main branch: a configured Redis block wires a
+// redisStore (backed by a respClient) into the limiter, and an explicit
+// FailOpen=false is honored rather than overridden by the default.
+func TestNewGateway_RedisConfigured_WiresRedisStoreAndFailOpen(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	failOpen := false
+	cfg.Redis = &RedisConfig{Address: "127.0.0.1:0", FailOpen: &failOpen}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	h, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New: %v", err)
+	}
+	gw := h.(*Gateway)
+	if gw.limiter == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want a non-nil limiter")
+	}
+	if _, ok := gw.limiter.store.(*redisStore); !ok {
+		t.Errorf("gw.limiter.store = %#v (%T), want *redisStore", gw.limiter.store, gw.limiter.store)
+	}
+	if gw.limiter.failOpen {
+		t.Error("gw.limiter.failOpen = true, want false (explicit config)")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RedisFailOpenNilDefaultsTrue asserts a configured Redis
+// block with FailOpen left nil defaults to true, matching the no-Redis
+// default.
+func TestNewGateway_RedisFailOpenNilDefaultsTrue(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Redis = &RedisConfig{Address: "127.0.0.1:0"}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	h, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New: %v", err)
+	}
+	gw := h.(*Gateway)
+	if !gw.limiter.failOpen {
+		t.Error("gw.limiter.failOpen = false, want true (FailOpen left nil)")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RedisConfigured_EmptyAddress_ReturnsConstructorError
+// asserts a Redis block with no address fails construction immediately,
+// rather than deferring the error to the first lazy-connect attempt on
+// the request path.
+func TestNewGateway_RedisConfigured_EmptyAddress_ReturnsConstructorError(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Redis = &RedisConfig{}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	if _, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want constructor error for a Redis block with an empty address")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RedisPassword_ResolvedViaSecret is an end-to-end proof
+// that newGateway resolves Config.Redis.Password through resolveSecret
+// (env:/file:/literal) before handing it to respClient: an "env:" password
+// must arrive at the fake server as its resolved value, not the literal
+// "env:..." string.
+func TestNewGateway_RedisPassword_ResolvedViaSecret(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("LLMGW_TEST_REDIS_PASSWORD", "resolved-pw")
+
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"AUTH", "resolved-pw"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "k"}, reply: []byte("$-1\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Redis = &RedisConfig{Address: ln.Addr().String(), Password: "env:LLMGW_TEST_REDIS_PASSWORD"} // #nosec G101 -- not a credential, a resolveSecret "env:" reference to an env var name
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	h, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New: %v", err)
+	}
+	gw := h.(*Gateway)
+	store, ok := gw.limiter.store.(*redisStore)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("gw.limiter.store = %#v (%T), want *redisStore", gw.limiter.store, gw.limiter.store)
+	}
+	if _, err := store.get("k"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("store.get: %v (want the resolved password to authenticate against the fake server)", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_RedisPassword_UnresolvableSecret_ReturnsConstructorError
+// asserts an "env:" password referencing an unset variable fails
+// construction with resolveSecret's error, rather than deferring to a
+// confusing AUTH failure at request time.
+func TestNewGateway_RedisPassword_UnresolvableSecret_ReturnsConstructorError(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	cfg.Redis = &RedisConfig{Address: "127.0.0.1:0", Password: "env:LLMGW_TEST_REDIS_PASSWORD_UNSET"} // #nosec G101 -- not a credential, a resolveSecret "env:" reference to an env var name
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	if _, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "llmgw"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want constructor error for an unresolvable Redis password secret")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNewGateway_SetsPricingWarnFn is carried-item (d)'s pricing wiring:
+// New must call setPricingWarnFn so an unpriced model's warning reaches
+// the gateway's own log, not pricing.go's default no-op.
+func TestNewGateway_SetsPricingWarnFn(t *testing.T) {
+	warnedModelsMu.Lock()
+	prevWarned, prevCapNotified := warnedModels, warnCapNotified
+	warnedModels = map[string]bool{}
+	warnCapNotified = false
+	warnedModelsMu.Unlock()
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		warnedModelsMu.Lock()
+		warnedModels, warnCapNotified = prevWarned, prevCapNotified
+		warnedModelsMu.Unlock()
+		setPricingWarnFn(func(string) {})
+	})
+
+	cfg := CreateConfig()
+	cfg.Providers = map[string]*ProviderConfig{"openai": {Type: "openai", APIKey: "k"}}
+	next := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {})
+	h, err := New(context.Background(), next, cfg, "mygw")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("New: %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = h.(*Gateway)
+
+	origStderr := os.Stderr
+	r, w, _ := os.Pipe()
+	os.Stderr = w
+
+	costMicros("totally-unpriced-model-for-newgateway-test", usage{prompt: 1}, nil)
+
+	_ = w.Close() // closing the pipe write end to unblock the read; error not actionable in a test
+	os.Stderr = origStderr
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if _, err := io.Copy(&buf, r); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("io.Copy: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(buf.String(), "llmgw[mygw]") {
+		t.Fatalf("want the pricing warning routed through the gateway's own logf, got %q", buf.String())
+	}
+}
diff --git a/redis_store.go b/redis_store.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1b6866
--- /dev/null
+++ b/redis_store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package traefikllmgateway
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// redisStore is a counterStore backed by a Redis-compatible server over
+// respClient, so multiple Traefik instances share the same limit counters
+// instead of each enforcing limits against its own in-process state.
+type redisStore struct {
+	client *respClient
+}
+
+// newRedisStore returns a redisStore using client for storage.
+func newRedisStore(client *respClient) *redisStore {
+	return &redisStore{client: client}
+}
+
+// incrBy implements counterStore: INCRBY key n, then EXPIRE key
+// ttlSeconds, sent as one pipeline so the two commands share a single round
+// trip. It returns INCRBY's resulting counter value; EXPIRE's reply is not
+// otherwise inspected — a failed EXPIRE right after a successful INCRBY on
+// the same key would only leave that key without a fresh TTL, not corrupt
+// the count. ttl is rounded up to whole seconds (Redis EXPIRE's unit),
+// with a floor of 1s so a sub-second ttl never turns into EXPIRE 0 (an
+// immediate delete).
+func (s *redisStore) incrBy(key string, n int64, ttl time.Duration) (int64, error) {
+	ttlSeconds := int64(ttl / time.Second)
+	if ttl%time.Second != 0 {
+		ttlSeconds++
+	}
+	if ttlSeconds < 1 {
+		ttlSeconds = 1
+	}
+
+	replies, err := s.client.pipeline([][]string{
+		{"INCRBY", key, strconv.FormatInt(n, 10)},
+		{"EXPIRE", key, strconv.FormatInt(ttlSeconds, 10)},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: incrBy %q: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	if len(replies) == 0 {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: incrBy %q: empty pipeline reply", key)
+	}
+	if e, ok := replies[0].(error); ok {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: incrBy %q: INCRBY failed: %w", key, e)
+	}
+	v, ok := replies[0].(int64)
+	if !ok {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: incrBy %q: unexpected INCRBY reply type %T", key, replies[0])
+	}
+	return v, nil
+}
+
+// get implements counterStore: GET key, treating a missing key (RESP null
+// bulk reply) as 0, matching memoryStore's behavior for an absent or
+// expired counter.
+func (s *redisStore) get(key string) (int64, error) {
+	reply, err := s.client.do("GET", key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: get %q: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	if reply == nil {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	if e, ok := reply.(error); ok {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: get %q: %w", key, e)
+	}
+	b, ok := reply.([]byte)
+	if !ok {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: get %q: unexpected reply type %T", key, reply)
+	}
+	v, err := strconv.ParseInt(string(b), 10, 64)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("redisStore: get %q: non-integer value %q: %w", key, b, err)
+	}
+	return v, nil
+}
diff --git a/redis_store_test.go b/redis_store_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..447330b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/redis_store_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+package traefikllmgateway
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// TestRedisStore_IncrBy_PipelinesIncrbyAndExpire is the brief's Step-1
+// pipeline case: incrBy sends INCRBY and EXPIRE as one pipeline and
+// returns INCRBY's reply value.
+func TestRedisStore_IncrBy_PipelinesIncrbyAndExpire(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"INCRBY", "llmgw:user:a:req:day:20260820", "1"}, reply: []byte(":5\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"EXPIRE", "llmgw:user:a:req:day:20260820", "60"}, reply: []byte(":1\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	store := newRedisStore(newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "", 0))
+	v, err := store.incrBy("llmgw:user:a:req:day:20260820", 1, 60*time.Second)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("incrBy: %v", err)
+	}
+	if v != 5 {
+		t.Errorf("incrBy = %d, want 5", v)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestRedisStore_IncrBy_RoundsSubSecondTTLUp asserts a ttl under one
+// second is never sent to EXPIRE as 0 (which would delete the key
+// immediately) — it is rounded up to a 1s floor.
+func TestRedisStore_IncrBy_RoundsSubSecondTTLUp(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"INCRBY", "k", "1"}, reply: []byte(":1\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"EXPIRE", "k", "1"}, reply: []byte(":1\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	store := newRedisStore(newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "", 0))
+	if _, err := store.incrBy("k", 1, 10*time.Millisecond); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("incrBy: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestRedisStore_Get_MissingKeyReturnsZero is the brief's Step-1 GET case:
+// a null bulk reply ("$-1") decodes to 0 with no error.
+func TestRedisStore_Get_MissingKeyReturnsZero(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "llmgw:user:a:req:day:20260820"}, reply: []byte("$-1\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	store := newRedisStore(newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "", 0))
+	v, err := store.get("llmgw:user:a:req:day:20260820")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if v != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("get = %d, want 0", v)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestRedisStore_Get_ParsesIntegerValue asserts a present key's bulk-string
+// value is parsed as a base-10 integer.
+func TestRedisStore_Get_ParsesIntegerValue(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "k"}, reply: []byte("$3\r\n123\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	store := newRedisStore(newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "", 0))
+	v, err := store.get("k")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if v != 123 {
+		t.Errorf("get = %d, want 123", v)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiter_FailOpenFalse_DeadRedisAddress_ReturnsStoreDownViolation is
+// the brief's Step-1 case: a limiter backed by a redisStore pointed at an
+// address nothing listens on, with failOpen=false, must refuse the
+// request with a storeDown violation rather than silently falling back to
+// an in-process counter or panicking.
+func TestLimiter_FailOpenFalse_DeadRedisAddress_ReturnsStoreDownViolation(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	deadAddr := ln.Addr().String()
+	if err := ln.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	} // nothing listens at deadAddr from here on
+
+	store := newRedisStore(newRESPClient(deadAddr, "", 0))
+	l := newLimiter(store, false)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerMinute: 100}}}
+
+	v := l.checkAndCount(scopes)
+	if v == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want a violation when the store is unreachable and failOpen is false")
+	}
+	if !v.storeDown {
+		t.Errorf("v.storeDown = false, want true")
+	}
+	if v.message != "limit store unavailable" {
+		t.Errorf("v.message = %q, want %q", v.message, "limit store unavailable")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestLimiter_FailOpenTrue_DeadRedisAddress_FallsBackAndAllows mirrors the
+// fail-closed case above with failOpen=true: the same dead address must
+// not block the request — the limiter transparently counts against its
+// in-process fallback instead.
+func TestLimiter_FailOpenTrue_DeadRedisAddress_FallsBackAndAllows(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	deadAddr := ln.Addr().String()
+	if err := ln.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	store := newRedisStore(newRESPClient(deadAddr, "", 0))
+	l := newLimiter(store, true)
+	scopes := []limitScope{{kind: "user", id: "u", limits: &LimitsConfig{RequestsPerMinute: 100}}}
+
+	if v := l.checkAndCount(scopes); v != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("want no violation with failOpen=true and a dead store, got %+v", v)
+	}
+
+	got, err := l.fallback.get(windowKey("user", "u", metricReq, windowDay, l.now()))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fallback.get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("fallback req:day counter = %d, want 1 (the request must have been counted in the fallback)", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/resp.go b/resp.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ec5b15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resp.go
@@ -0,0 +1,292 @@
+package traefikllmgateway
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// respDialTimeout, respReadTimeout, and respWriteTimeout bound every
+// network operation respClient performs: connecting, writing a pipeline,
+// and reading each reply. A hung or unreachable Redis-compatible server
+// must never block a request indefinitely — the limiter's fail-open/
+// fail-closed handling (limits.go) depends on a store call returning
+// within a bounded time.
+const (
+	respDialTimeout  = 2 * time.Second
+	respReadTimeout  = 2 * time.Second
+	respWriteTimeout = 2 * time.Second
+)
+
+// respErr is a RESP2 error reply ("-message\r\n"). It implements error so a
+// caller inspecting a decoded reply can type-assert for it the same way as
+// any other error.
+type respErr string
+
+// Error implements the error interface.
+func (e respErr) Error() string { return string(e) }
+
+// respClient is a minimal stdlib-only RESP2 client for a single Redis-
+// compatible server: one mutex-guarded TCP connection, lazily dialled on
+// first use and reconnected at most once when a command round trip fails.
+// It exists because the plugin runs interpreted under Yaegi with only the
+// Go standard library available, so a full Redis client library is not an
+// option.
+//
+// mu serializes every operation — do and pipeline hold it for their whole
+// round trip, including any reconnect — since RESP is not multiplexed:
+// interleaving two callers' writes on one connection would corrupt both
+// replies.
+type respClient struct {
+	conn     net.Conn
+	r        *bufio.Reader
+	addr     string
+	password string
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	db       int
+}
+
+// newRESPClient returns a respClient for addr. It does not connect until
+// the first do or pipeline call. password, if non-empty, is sent via AUTH
+// on every new connection; db is always sent via SELECT on every new
+// connection (including db 0), since a Redis-compatible proxy is not
+// guaranteed to default a fresh connection to database 0.
+func newRESPClient(addr, password string, db int) *respClient {
+	return &respClient{addr: addr, password: password, db: db}
+}
+
+// do sends one command and returns its decoded reply. It is equivalent to
+// pipeline with a single command.
+func (c *respClient) do(args ...string) (any, error) {
+	replies, err := c.pipeline([][]string{args})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return replies[0], nil
+}
+
+// pipeline sends every command in cmds on one round trip and returns their
+// decoded replies in the same order. On any I/O error — including a
+// failure to (re)connect — it closes the current connection, reconnects
+// once, and retries the whole pipeline from scratch; a second failure is
+// returned to the caller with the connection left closed, so the next call
+// lazily reconnects fresh rather than retrying against a connection
+// already known bad.
+func (c *respClient) pipeline(cmds [][]string) ([]any, error) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	replies, err := c.attemptPipelineLocked(cmds)
+	if err == nil {
+		return replies, nil
+	}
+
+	c.closeLocked()
+	replies, err = c.attemptPipelineLocked(cmds)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.closeLocked()
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return replies, nil
+}
+
+// attemptPipelineLocked runs one full attempt of cmds over c's connection,
+// connecting first if needed. Callers must hold c.mu.
+func (c *respClient) attemptPipelineLocked(cmds [][]string) ([]any, error) {
+	if err := c.ensureConnLocked(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var buf strings.Builder
+	for _, args := range cmds {
+		buf.WriteString(encodeCommand(args))
+	}
+	if err := c.conn.SetWriteDeadline(time.Now().Add(respWriteTimeout)); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: set write deadline: %w", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := io.WriteString(c.conn, buf.String()); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: write: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	replies := make([]any, len(cmds))
+	for i := range cmds {
+		if err := c.conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(respReadTimeout)); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: set read deadline: %w", err)
+		}
+		v, err := decodeReply(c.r)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: read reply %d/%d: %w", i+1, len(cmds), err)
+		}
+		replies[i] = v
+	}
+	return replies, nil
+}
+
+// ensureConnLocked dials, authenticates, and selects the database if c has
+// no live connection. Callers must hold c.mu.
+func (c *respClient) ensureConnLocked() error {
+	if c.conn != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	conn, err := net.DialTimeout("tcp", c.addr, respDialTimeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resp: dial %q: %w", c.addr, err)
+	}
+	c.conn = conn
+	c.r = bufio.NewReader(conn)
+
+	if c.password != "" {
+		if err := c.handshakeLocked("AUTH", c.password); err != nil {
+			c.closeLocked()
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if err := c.handshakeLocked("SELECT", strconv.Itoa(c.db)); err != nil {
+		c.closeLocked()
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// handshakeLocked sends one connection-setup command (AUTH or SELECT) and
+// requires a non-error reply. Callers must hold c.mu and have a live
+// c.conn.
+func (c *respClient) handshakeLocked(cmd, arg string) error {
+	if err := c.conn.SetWriteDeadline(time.Now().Add(respWriteTimeout)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resp: set write deadline: %w", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := io.WriteString(c.conn, encodeCommand([]string{cmd, arg})); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resp: %s: write: %w", cmd, err)
+	}
+	if err := c.conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(respReadTimeout)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resp: set read deadline: %w", err)
+	}
+	v, err := decodeReply(c.r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resp: %s: read reply: %w", cmd, err)
+	}
+	if e, ok := v.(respErr); ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resp: %s failed: %w", cmd, e)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// closeLocked closes and clears c's connection, if any. Callers must hold
+// c.mu.
+func (c *respClient) closeLocked() {
+	if c.conn == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	_ = c.conn.Close()
+	c.conn = nil
+	c.r = nil
+}
+
+// encodeCommand renders args as a RESP2 command array:
+// "*N\r\n$len\r\narg\r\n..." for each arg.
+func encodeCommand(args []string) string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "*%d\r\n", len(args))
+	for _, a := range args {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&b, "$%d\r\n%s\r\n", len(a), a)
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// decodeReply reads and decodes one RESP2 reply from r:
+//
+//   - "+simple\r\n"  -> string
+//   - "-error\r\n"   -> respErr (implements error; not returned as err)
+//   - ":123\r\n"     -> int64
+//   - "$len\r\n...\r\n" -> []byte, or nil for a null bulk ("$-1\r\n")
+//   - "*n\r\n..."    -> []any of n decoded elements, or nil for a null
+//     array ("*-1\r\n")
+//
+// The returned error is non-nil only for a transport or protocol failure
+// (short read, malformed line, unknown type byte) — a well-formed RESP
+// error reply decodes successfully to a respErr value, not to a non-nil
+// error, so a caller pipelining several commands can still read every
+// reply after one of them fails server-side.
+func decodeReply(r *bufio.Reader) (any, error) {
+	line, err := readLine(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if line == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: empty reply line")
+	}
+
+	prefix, rest := line[0], line[1:]
+	switch prefix {
+	case '+':
+		return rest, nil
+	case '-':
+		return respErr(rest), nil
+	case ':':
+		n, err := strconv.ParseInt(rest, 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: malformed integer reply %q: %w", rest, err)
+		}
+		return n, nil
+	case '$':
+		return decodeBulk(r, rest)
+	case '*':
+		return decodeArray(r, rest)
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: unknown reply type %q", prefix)
+	}
+}
+
+// decodeBulk reads a bulk string body given its already-parsed "$" length
+// field lenField, returning nil for a null bulk ("$-1").
+func decodeBulk(r *bufio.Reader, lenField string) (any, error) {
+	n, err := strconv.Atoi(lenField)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: malformed bulk length %q: %w", lenField, err)
+	}
+	if n < 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	buf := make([]byte, n+2) // payload plus trailing CRLF
+	if _, err := io.ReadFull(r, buf); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: read bulk body: %w", err)
+	}
+	return buf[:n], nil
+}
+
+// decodeArray reads n elements given the already-parsed "*" length field
+// lenField, returning nil for a null array ("*-1").
+func decodeArray(r *bufio.Reader, lenField string) (any, error) {
+	n, err := strconv.Atoi(lenField)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: malformed array length %q: %w", lenField, err)
+	}
+	if n < 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	arr := make([]any, n)
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		v, err := decodeReply(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("resp: array element %d/%d: %w", i+1, n, err)
+		}
+		arr[i] = v
+	}
+	return arr, nil
+}
+
+// readLine reads one CRLF-terminated line from r, with the trailing CRLF
+// (or bare LF) stripped.
+func readLine(r *bufio.Reader) (string, error) {
+	line, err := r.ReadString('\n')
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("resp: read line: %w", err)
+	}
+	return strings.TrimRight(line, "\r\n"), nil
+}
diff --git a/resp_test.go b/resp_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31e3aca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resp_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,347 @@
+package traefikllmgateway
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TestEncodeCommand pins the exact RESP2 wire format every command must
+// use: "*N\r\n$len\r\narg\r\n..." — a fake or real server parses this
+// framing byte-for-byte, so a drift here breaks every other test silently.
+func TestEncodeCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		want string
+		args []string
+	}{
+		{name: "single arg", args: []string{"GET"}, want: "*1\r\n$3\r\nGET\r\n"},
+		{name: "multiple args", args: []string{"SET", "k", "v"}, want: "*3\r\n$3\r\nSET\r\n$1\r\nk\r\n$1\r\nv\r\n"},
+		{name: "empty arg", args: []string{"SELECT", ""}, want: "*2\r\n$6\r\nSELECT\r\n$0\r\n\r\n"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := encodeCommand(c.args); got != c.want {
+				t.Errorf("encodeCommand(%v) = %q, want %q", c.args, got, c.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// TestDecodeReply covers every RESP2 type respClient must decode: simple
+// string, error, integer, bulk string (including the null bulk "$-1"), and
+// array (including the null array "*-1" and nesting).
+func TestDecodeReply(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("simple string", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader("+OK\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		if v != "OK" {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want %q", v, "OK")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("error reply decodes to respErr, not a decode error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader("-ERR wrong number of arguments\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply returned an error for a well-formed RESP error reply: %v", err)
+		}
+		e, ok := v.(respErr)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("v = %#v (%T), want respErr", v, v)
+		}
+		if e.Error() != "ERR wrong number of arguments" {
+			t.Errorf("e.Error() = %q, want %q", e.Error(), "ERR wrong number of arguments")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("integer", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader(":42\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		if v != int64(42) {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want int64(42)", v)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("negative integer", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader(":-7\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		if v != int64(-7) {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want int64(-7)", v)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("bulk string", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader("$5\r\nhello\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		b, ok := v.([]byte)
+		if !ok || !bytes.Equal(b, []byte("hello")) {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want []byte(\"hello\")", v)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("null bulk (missing key)", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader("$-1\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		if v != nil {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want nil", v)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader("*2\r\n:5\r\n:1\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		arr, ok := v.([]any)
+		if !ok || len(arr) != 2 || arr[0] != int64(5) || arr[1] != int64(1) {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want []any{int64(5), int64(1)}", v)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("null array", func(t *testing.T) {
+		v, err := decodeReply(newReader("*-1\r\n"))
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("decodeReply: %v", err)
+		}
+		if v != nil {
+			t.Errorf("v = %#v, want nil", v)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("malformed type byte is a decode error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		if _, err := decodeReply(newReader("?nope\r\n")); err == nil {
+			t.Fatal("want error for an unknown reply type byte")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// newReader wraps s in a *bufio.Reader, matching what respClient reads
+// from its connection.
+func newReader(s string) *bufio.Reader {
+	return bufio.NewReader(strings.NewReader(s))
+}
+
+// respStep is one entry in a fakeRESPServer script.
+type respStep struct {
+	// wantArgs, if non-nil, asserts the next command read equals this
+	// exactly before replying.
+	wantArgs []string
+	// reply is written back verbatim; ignored when closeConn is true.
+	reply []byte
+	// closeConn closes the connection instead of replying, simulating a
+	// server that drops mid-command. The next step (if any) accepts a new
+	// connection.
+	closeConn bool
+}
+
+// runFakeRESPServer executes script against ln in a background goroutine.
+// It accepts a new connection whenever the previous one ends (either
+// because a step set closeConn, or because the client itself closed it),
+// so a script can simulate a server that drops a connection mid-command
+// and expect the client to reconnect for the remaining steps. Mismatches
+// are reported via t.Errorf, which is safe to call from a goroutine.
+func runFakeRESPServer(t *testing.T, ln net.Listener, script []respStep) {
+	t.Helper()
+	go func() {
+		var conn net.Conn
+		var r *bufio.Reader
+		for _, step := range script {
+			if conn == nil {
+				c, err := ln.Accept()
+				if err != nil {
+					return // listener closed by t.Cleanup; test is finishing
+				}
+				conn = c
+				r = bufio.NewReader(conn)
+			}
+
+			args, err := readRESPCommand(r)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("fake RESP server: read command: %v", err)
+				return
+			}
+			if step.wantArgs != nil && !equalStrSlices(args, step.wantArgs) {
+				t.Errorf("fake RESP server: got command %v, want %v", args, step.wantArgs)
+			}
+
+			if step.closeConn {
+				_ = conn.Close()
+				conn, r = nil, nil
+				continue
+			}
+			if _, err := conn.Write(step.reply); err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("fake RESP server: write reply: %v", err)
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+}
+
+// readRESPCommand reads one RESP2 command array ("*N\r\n$len\r\narg\r\n...")
+// from r — the same framing encodeCommand produces — and returns its args.
+func readRESPCommand(r *bufio.Reader) ([]string, error) {
+	line, err := readLine(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(line, "*") {
+		return nil, &strconvLikeError{"want array header, got " + strconv.Quote(line)}
+	}
+	n, err := strconv.Atoi(line[1:])
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	args := make([]string, n)
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		lenLine, err := readLine(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(lenLine, "$") {
+			return nil, &strconvLikeError{"want bulk header, got " + strconv.Quote(lenLine)}
+		}
+		l, err := strconv.Atoi(lenLine[1:])
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		buf := make([]byte, l+2)
+		if _, err := io.ReadFull(r, buf); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		args[i] = string(buf[:l])
+	}
+	return args, nil
+}
+
+// strconvLikeError is a trivial error string type for readRESPCommand's
+// framing-mismatch messages.
+type strconvLikeError struct{ msg string }
+
+func (e *strconvLikeError) Error() string { return e.msg }
+
+// equalStrSlices reports whether a and b hold the same strings in the same
+// order.
+func equalStrSlices(a, b []string) bool {
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for i := range a {
+		if a[i] != b[i] {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// newFakeListener returns a TCP listener on 127.0.0.1 with an OS-assigned
+// port, closed automatically at test cleanup.
+func newFakeListener(t *testing.T) net.Listener {
+	t.Helper()
+	ln, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("net.Listen: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = ln.Close() })
+	return ln
+}
+
+// TestRESPClient_ConnectSendsAuthThenSelect is the brief's Step-1
+// connection-setup case: a configured password sends AUTH before SELECT,
+// both requiring a non-error reply, and SELECT is sent with the
+// configured db even when db is 0 — a fresh connection to a Redis-
+// compatible proxy is not guaranteed to already sit on database 0.
+func TestRESPClient_ConnectSendsAuthThenSelect(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"AUTH", "pw"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "missing-key"}, reply: []byte("$-1\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	c := newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "pw", 0)
+	v, err := c.do("GET", "missing-key")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("do: %v", err)
+	}
+	if v != nil {
+		t.Errorf("v = %#v, want nil (null bulk for a missing key)", v)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestRESPClient_NoPasswordSkipsAuth asserts an empty password never sends
+// AUTH — the first command on the wire is SELECT.
+func TestRESPClient_NoPasswordSkipsAuth(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "3"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "k"}, reply: []byte("$1\r\nv\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	c := newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "", 3)
+	v, err := c.do("GET", "k")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("do: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b, ok := v.([]byte); !ok || string(b) != "v" {
+		t.Errorf("v = %#v, want []byte(\"v\")", v)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestRESPClient_ReconnectsOnceOnMidCommandClose is the brief's Step-1
+// reconnect case: the server drops the connection after reading a command
+// but before replying (simulating a network failure mid-round-trip). The
+// client must reconnect once — replaying the connection handshake — and
+// retry the command, succeeding on the second attempt.
+func TestRESPClient_ReconnectsOnceOnMidCommandClose(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	runFakeRESPServer(t, ln, []respStep{
+		// First connection: handshake succeeds, then GET is read but the
+		// server closes without ever writing a reply.
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "k"}, closeConn: true},
+		// Second connection: the client must redo the handshake, then
+		// resend GET and this time get a reply.
+		{wantArgs: []string{"SELECT", "0"}, reply: []byte("+OK\r\n")},
+		{wantArgs: []string{"GET", "k"}, reply: []byte("$2\r\nv2\r\n")},
+	})
+
+	c := newRESPClient(ln.Addr().String(), "", 0)
+	v, err := c.do("GET", "k")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("do: %v (want the client to reconnect once and succeed)", err)
+	}
+	if b, ok := v.([]byte); !ok || string(b) != "v2" {
+		t.Errorf("v = %#v, want []byte(\"v2\")", v)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestRESPClient_ReconnectFailsTwice_ReturnsError asserts a client gives
+// up (rather than retrying forever) once the retried attempt also fails:
+// dialing a dead address never succeeds, so both the first attempt and the
+// one reconnect attempt fail, and do returns an error.
+func TestRESPClient_ReconnectFailsTwice_ReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	ln := newFakeListener(t)
+	deadAddr := ln.Addr().String()
+	if err := ln.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Close: %v", err)
+	} // nothing listens at deadAddr from here on
+
+	c := newRESPClient(deadAddr, "", 0)
+	if _, err := c.do("GET", "k"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want an error dialing a dead address")
+	}
+}