diff --git a/hyperextract/cli/cli.py b/hyperextract/cli/cli.py
index b62c29e..c59905e 100644
--- a/hyperextract/cli/cli.py
+++ b/hyperextract/cli/cli.py
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ def search(
     )
 
 
-def chat_loop(ka, ka_path: str):
+def chat_loop(ka, ka_path: str, top_k: int = 3):
     """Interactive chat loop."""
     console.print(
         "\n[bold green]Entering interactive mode. Type 'exit' or 'quit' to stop.[/bold green]\n"
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ def chat_loop(ka, ka_path: str):
                 break
             if not query.strip():
                 continue
-            response = ka.chat(query)
+            response = ka.chat(query, top_k=top_k)
             console.print()
             console.print(response.content)
             console.print()
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ def talk(
             raise typer.Exit(1)
 
     if interactive:
-        chat_loop(ka, ka_path)
+        chat_loop(ka, ka_path, top_k=top_k)
     else:
         with console.status("[bold blue]Thinking..."):
             try:
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_talk.py b/tests/cli/test_talk.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb19cc6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cli/test_talk.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+"""Tests for the interactive `he talk` chat loop."""
+
+import hyperextract.cli.cli as climod
+
+
+def test_chat_loop_passes_top_k(monkeypatch):
+    """Interactive chat must forward top_k to ka.chat, not use the default."""
+    recorded = {}
+
+    class _StubKA:
+        def chat(self, query, top_k=3):
+            recorded["top_k"] = top_k
+            return type("_Resp", (), {"content": "ok"})()
+
+    queries = iter(["hello", "exit"])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(climod.console, "input", lambda *a, **k: next(queries))
+
+    climod.chat_loop(_StubKA(), "some/ka", top_k=10)
+
+    assert recorded["top_k"] == 10