diff --git a/doc/telescope.txt b/doc/telescope.txt
index 47410ee8ba..cbcfb678bd 100644
--- a/doc/telescope.txt
+++ b/doc/telescope.txt
@@ -2043,7 +2043,8 @@ layout_strategies.center                  *telescope.layout_strategies.center*
         • Specifies an amount of additional padding around the anchor
         • Values should be a positive integer
       • height:
-        • How tall to make Telescope's entire layout
+        • Controls the height of the results window in the center layout.
+        • Does not control the entire layout height — setting this too high can shrink or obscure the preview window.
         • See |resolver.resolve_height()|
       • mirror: Flip the location of the results/prompt and preview windows
       • prompt_position:
diff --git a/lua/telescope/pickers/layout_strategies.lua b/lua/telescope/pickers/layout_strategies.lua
index 989c793404..2bf23efea7 100644
--- a/lua/telescope/pickers/layout_strategies.lua
+++ b/lua/telescope/pickers/layout_strategies.lua
@@ -432,8 +432,13 @@ layout_strategies.horizontal = make_documented_layout(
 ---
 layout_strategies.center = make_documented_layout(
   "center",
-  vim.tbl_extend("error", shared_options, {
+  vim.tbl_extend("force", shared_options, {
     preview_cutoff = "When lines are less than this value, the preview will be disabled",
+    height = {
+      "Controls the height of the results window in the center layout.",
+      "Does not control the entire layout height — setting this too high can shrink or obscure the preview window.",
+      "See |resolver.resolve_height()|",
+    },
   }),
   function(self, max_columns, max_lines, layout_config)
     local initial_options = p_window.get_initial_window_options(self)
@@ -449,6 +454,7 @@ layout_strategies.center = make_documented_layout(
     local width = resolve.resolve_width(width_opt)(self, max_columns, max_lines)
 
     -- This sets the height for the whole layout
+    -- Setting this too high can shrink or obscure the preview window.
     local height_opt = layout_config.height
     local height = resolve.resolve_height(height_opt)(self, max_columns, max_lines)