diff --git a/controller/matrix/MatrixController.js b/controller/matrix/MatrixController.js
index 1971b22..e5b9f39 100644
--- a/controller/matrix/MatrixController.js
+++ b/controller/matrix/MatrixController.js
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ const MatrixService = require('../../services/matrix/MatrixService');
 
 async function create(req, res) {
   try {
-    const { name, email, force } = req.query; // email of the top node account
+    const { name, email, force, depth } = req.query; // email of the top node account
+    const parsedDepth = depth !== undefined ? Number(depth) : undefined;
     const result = await MatrixService.create({
       name,
       topNodeEmail: email,
       force: String(force || '').toLowerCase() === 'true',
+      depth: parsedDepth,
       actorUser: req.user
     });
     return res.json({ success: true, data: result });
diff --git a/repositories/matrix/MatrixRepository.js b/repositories/matrix/MatrixRepository.js
index dbfe997..655917c 100644
--- a/repositories/matrix/MatrixRepository.js
+++ b/repositories/matrix/MatrixRepository.js
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ async function ensureUserExistsByEmail(conn, email) {
   return rows[0];
 }
 
-async function createMatrix({ name, topNodeEmail }) {
+async function createMatrix({ name, topNodeEmail, maxDepth }) {
   const conn = await pool.getConnection();
   try {
     await conn.beginTransaction();
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ async function createMatrix({ name, topNodeEmail }) {
     const [instRes] = await conn.query(
       `INSERT INTO matrix_instances
         (root_user_id, name, is_active, max_depth, ego_activated_at, immediate_children_count, first_free_position)
-       VALUES (?, ?, TRUE, NULL, NOW(), 0, NULL)`,              // CHANGED: first_free_position NULL at root
-      [topUser.id, name]
+       VALUES (?, ?, TRUE, ?, NOW(), 0, NULL)`,
+      [topUser.id, name, (typeof maxDepth === 'number' && Number.isFinite(maxDepth)) ? maxDepth : null]
     );
     const matrixInstanceId = instRes.insertId;
 
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ async function createMatrix({ name, topNodeEmail }) {
       `INSERT INTO user_matrix_metadata
         (matrix_instance_id, root_user_id, ego_activated_at, last_bfs_fill_at, immediate_children_count,
          first_free_position, name, is_active, max_depth)
-       VALUES (?, ?, NOW(), NULL, 0, 1, ?, TRUE, NULL)`,
-      [matrixInstanceId, topUser.id, name]
+       VALUES (?, ?, NOW(), NULL, 0, 1, ?, TRUE, ?)`,
+      [matrixInstanceId, topUser.id, name, (typeof maxDepth === 'number' && Number.isFinite(maxDepth)) ? maxDepth : null]
     );
 
     // Self closure scoped to instance
diff --git a/services/matrix/MatrixService.js b/services/matrix/MatrixService.js
index 106c1e8..295f5c5 100644
--- a/services/matrix/MatrixService.js
+++ b/services/matrix/MatrixService.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function toBool(value, defaultVal = false) {
   return defaultVal;
 }
 
-async function create({ name, topNodeEmail, actorUser }) { // force removed (new instance each time)
+async function create({ name, topNodeEmail, actorUser, depth }) {
   if (!actorUser) {
     const err = new Error('Unauthorized');
     err.status = 401;
@@ -47,8 +47,18 @@ async function create({ name, topNodeEmail, actorUser }) { // force removed (new
     err.status = 400;
     throw err;
   }
+  let maxDepth = undefined;
+  if (depth !== undefined) {
+    const d = Number(depth);
+    if (!Number.isFinite(d) || d < 1 || d > 20) {
+      const err = new Error('Matrix depth must be between 1 and 20');
+      err.status = 400;
+      throw err;
+    }
+    maxDepth = d;
+  }
 
-  const res = await MatrixRepository.createMatrix({ name: trimmedName, topNodeEmail: email });
+  const res = await MatrixRepository.createMatrix({ name: trimmedName, topNodeEmail: email, maxDepth });
   return new Matrix({
     name: res.name,
     masterTopUserId: res.masterTopUserId,