diff --git a/docs/api-operation.md b/docs/api-operation.md
index 35f212fe..bfff981c 100644
--- a/docs/api-operation.md
+++ b/docs/api-operation.md
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ See [libvips sharpen](https://www.libvips.org/API/current/libvips-convolution.ht
 | Param | Type | Default | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
 | [options] | <code>Object</code> \| <code>number</code> |  | if present, is an Object with attributes |
-| [options.sigma] | <code>number</code> |  | the sigma of the Gaussian mask, where `sigma = 1 + radius / 2`, between 0.000001 and 10000 |
+| [options.sigma] | <code>number</code> |  | the sigma of the Gaussian mask, where `sigma = 1 + radius / 2`, between 0.000001 and 10 |
 | [options.m1] | <code>number</code> | <code>1.0</code> | the level of sharpening to apply to "flat" areas, between 0 and 1000000 |
 | [options.m2] | <code>number</code> | <code>2.0</code> | the level of sharpening to apply to "jagged" areas, between 0 and 1000000 |
 | [options.x1] | <code>number</code> | <code>2.0</code> | threshold between "flat" and "jagged", between 0 and 1000000 |
diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 00f040bd..8fc71464 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.14.0
 * Prebuilt binaries: prevent use of glib slice allocator, improves QEMU support.
   [#3448](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/3448)
 
+* Reduce sharpen `sigma` maximum from 10000 to 10.
+  [#3521](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/3521)
+
 ## v0.31 - *eagle*
 
 Requires libvips v8.13.3
diff --git a/lib/operation.js b/lib/operation.js
index d21b566b..421df10f 100644
--- a/lib/operation.js
+++ b/lib/operation.js
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ function affine (matrix, options) {
  *   .toBuffer();
  *
  * @param {Object|number} [options] - if present, is an Object with attributes
- * @param {number} [options.sigma] - the sigma of the Gaussian mask, where `sigma = 1 + radius / 2`, between 0.000001 and 10000
+ * @param {number} [options.sigma] - the sigma of the Gaussian mask, where `sigma = 1 + radius / 2`, between 0.000001 and 10
  * @param {number} [options.m1=1.0] - the level of sharpening to apply to "flat" areas, between 0 and 1000000
  * @param {number} [options.m2=2.0] - the level of sharpening to apply to "jagged" areas, between 0 and 1000000
  * @param {number} [options.x1=2.0] - threshold between "flat" and "jagged", between 0 and 1000000
@@ -270,10 +270,10 @@ function sharpen (options, flat, jagged) {
       }
     }
   } else if (is.plainObject(options)) {
-    if (is.number(options.sigma) && is.inRange(options.sigma, 0.000001, 10000)) {
+    if (is.number(options.sigma) && is.inRange(options.sigma, 0.000001, 10)) {
       this.options.sharpenSigma = options.sigma;
     } else {
-      throw is.invalidParameterError('options.sigma', 'number between 0.000001 and 10000', options.sigma);
+      throw is.invalidParameterError('options.sigma', 'number between 0.000001 and 10', options.sigma);
     }
     if (is.defined(options.m1)) {
       if (is.number(options.m1) && is.inRange(options.m1, 0, 1000000)) {
diff --git a/test/unit/sharpen.js b/test/unit/sharpen.js
index 324faa21..fd8c5cd9 100644
--- a/test/unit/sharpen.js
+++ b/test/unit/sharpen.js
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe('Sharpen', function () {
 
   it('invalid options.sigma', () => assert.throws(
     () => sharp().sharpen({ sigma: -1 }),
-    /Expected number between 0\.000001 and 10000 for options\.sigma but received -1 of type number/
+    /Expected number between 0\.000001 and 10 for options\.sigma but received -1 of type number/
   ));
 
   it('invalid options.m1', () => assert.throws(