diff --git a/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx b/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx
index 659fcf2f3..191d1895a 100644
--- a/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/message/MsgTypeRenderers.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { CSSProperties, ReactNode, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { CSSProperties, ReactNode, useEffect, useId, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { Box, Button, config, Icon, Icons, Text, color, toRem } from 'folds';
 import { IContent, MatrixEvent } from 'matrix-js-sdk';
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ import { formatAccuracy } from '../../utils/geoShare';
 import { Attachment, AttachmentBox, AttachmentContent, AttachmentHeader } from './attachment';
 import { FileHeader, FileDownloadButton } from './FileHeader';
 
-const COLLAPSE_MAX_HEIGHT = 320; // px ≈ 20 lines
+// ≈ 20 lines; in rem so a larger font setting doesn't show fewer lines (Gitea #343).
+const COLLAPSE_MAX_HEIGHT_REM = 20;
+const collapseMaxHeightPx = (): number =>
+  COLLAPSE_MAX_HEIGHT_REM * (parseFloat(getComputedStyle(document.documentElement).fontSize) || 16);
 
 type CollapsibleBodyProps = {
   eventId?: string;
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ function CollapsibleBody({ eventId, children }: CollapsibleBodyProps) {
     const el = bodyRef.current;
     if (!el) return undefined;
     const observer = new ResizeObserver(() => {
-      setNeedsCollapse(el.scrollHeight > COLLAPSE_MAX_HEIGHT);
+      setNeedsCollapse(el.scrollHeight > collapseMaxHeightPx());
     });
     observer.observe(el);
     return () => observer.disconnect();
@@ -89,16 +92,36 @@ function CollapsibleBody({ eventId, children }: CollapsibleBodyProps) {
   // (Gitea #85); useReducedMotion subscribes to the change event instead.
   const prefersReducedMotion = useReducedMotion();
 
+  const bodyId = useId();
+  const isClipped = needsCollapse && collapsed;
+  // [Gitea #343] The clipped part stays in the DOM, so Tab can reach a link in
+  // it; the browser would then scroll the overflow:hidden box itself (top cut
+  // off, and it stayed that way). Expand instead when focus lands inside.
+  const handleFocus = () => {
+    if (isClipped) setCollapsed(false);
+  };
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isClipped && bodyRef.current) bodyRef.current.scrollTop = 0;
+  }, [isClipped]);
+
+  // Fade the content itself rather than painting a fixed-colour gradient over
+  // it, so it blends on any background (bubbles, highlights, chat backgrounds).
+  const fadeMask = 'linear-gradient(#000 calc(100% - 3rem), transparent)';
+
   return (
     <div>
       <div
         ref={bodyRef}
+        id={bodyId}
+        onFocus={handleFocus}
         style={{
           position: 'relative',
-          ...(needsCollapse && collapsed
+          ...(isClipped
             ? {
-                maxHeight: `${COLLAPSE_MAX_HEIGHT}px`,
+                maxHeight: `${COLLAPSE_MAX_HEIGHT_REM}rem`,
                 overflow: 'hidden',
+                maskImage: fadeMask,
+                WebkitMaskImage: fadeMask,
                 transition: prefersReducedMotion ? undefined : 'max-height 0.2s ease',
               }
             : {
@@ -107,23 +130,12 @@ function CollapsibleBody({ eventId, children }: CollapsibleBodyProps) {
         }}
       >
         {children}
-        {needsCollapse && collapsed && (
-          <div
-            style={{
-              position: 'absolute',
-              bottom: 0,
-              left: 0,
-              right: 0,
-              height: '3rem',
-              background: `linear-gradient(transparent, ${color.Surface.Container})`,
-              pointerEvents: 'none',
-            }}
-          />
-        )}
       </div>
       {needsCollapse && (
         <button
           type="button"
+          aria-expanded={!collapsed}
+          aria-controls={bodyId}
           onClick={() => setCollapsed((c) => !c)}
           style={{
             cursor: 'pointer',
@@ -134,7 +146,8 @@ function CollapsibleBody({ eventId, children }: CollapsibleBodyProps) {
           }}
         >
           <Text as="span" size="T200" style={{ color: color.Primary.Main }}>
-            {collapsed ? 'Read more ↓' : 'Show less ↑'}
+            {collapsed ? 'Read more' : 'Show less'}
+            <span aria-hidden="true">{collapsed ? ' ↓' : ' ↑'}</span>
           </Text>
         </button>
       )}