diff --git a/tagstudio/src/core/constants.py b/tagstudio/src/core/constants.py
index 07ed3814..335df553 100644
--- a/tagstudio/src/core/constants.py
+++ b/tagstudio/src/core/constants.py
@@ -13,4 +13,5 @@ FONT_SAMPLE_SIZES: list[int] = [10, 15, 20]
 
 TAG_FAVORITE = 1
 TAG_ARCHIVED = 0
-RESERVED_TAG_IDS = range(0, 999)
+RESERVED_TAG_START = 0
+RESERVED_TAG_END = 999
diff --git a/tagstudio/src/core/library/alchemy/db.py b/tagstudio/src/core/library/alchemy/db.py
index 2152d424..f48ed2b5 100644
--- a/tagstudio/src/core/library/alchemy/db.py
+++ b/tagstudio/src/core/library/alchemy/db.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import structlog
 from sqlalchemy import Dialect, Engine, String, TypeDecorator, create_engine, text
 from sqlalchemy.orm import DeclarativeBase
+from src.core.constants import RESERVED_TAG_END
 
 logger = structlog.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -41,9 +42,11 @@ def make_tables(engine: Engine) -> None:
     with engine.connect() as conn:
         result = conn.execute(text("SELECT SEQ FROM sqlite_sequence WHERE name='tags'"))
         autoincrement_val = result.scalar()
-        if not autoincrement_val or autoincrement_val < 1000:
-            conn.execute(text("INSERT INTO tags (id, name, color) VALUES (999, 'temp', 1)"))
-            conn.execute(text("DELETE FROM tags WHERE id = 999"))
+        if not autoincrement_val or autoincrement_val <= RESERVED_TAG_END:
+            conn.execute(
+                text(f"INSERT INTO tags (id, name, color) VALUES ({RESERVED_TAG_END}, 'temp', 1)")
+            )
+            conn.execute(text(f"DELETE FROM tags WHERE id = {RESERVED_TAG_END}"))
             conn.commit()
 
 
diff --git a/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/tag_database.py b/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/tag_database.py
index 88d99b57..168420d5 100644
--- a/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/tag_database.py
+++ b/tagstudio/src/qt/modals/tag_database.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
     QVBoxLayout,
     QWidget,
 )
-from src.core.constants import RESERVED_TAG_IDS
+from src.core.constants import RESERVED_TAG_END, RESERVED_TAG_START
 from src.core.library import Library, Tag
 from src.qt.modals.build_tag import BuildTagPanel
 from src.qt.widgets.panel import PanelModal, PanelWidget
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class TagDatabasePanel(PanelWidget):
             row.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
             row.setSpacing(3)
 
-            if tag.id in RESERVED_TAG_IDS:
+            if tag.id in range(RESERVED_TAG_START, RESERVED_TAG_END):
                 tag_widget = TagWidget(tag, has_edit=False, has_remove=False)
             else:
                 tag_widget = TagWidget(tag, has_edit=True, has_remove=True)
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class TagDatabasePanel(PanelWidget):
         self.search_field.setFocus()
 
     def remove_tag(self, tag: Tag):
-        if tag.id in RESERVED_TAG_IDS:
+        if tag.id in range(RESERVED_TAG_START, RESERVED_TAG_END):
             return
 
         message_box = QMessageBox()
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class TagDatabasePanel(PanelWidget):
         self.update_tags()
 
     def edit_tag(self, tag: Tag):
-        if tag.id in RESERVED_TAG_IDS:
+        if tag.id in range(RESERVED_TAG_START, RESERVED_TAG_END):
             return
 
         build_tag_panel = BuildTagPanel(self.lib, tag=tag)