diff --git a/backend/app/controllers/nico_tags_controller.rb b/backend/app/controllers/nico_tags_controller.rb
index 68c35f5..ca9a5b1 100644
--- a/backend/app/controllers/nico_tags_controller.rb
+++ b/backend/app/controllers/nico_tags_controller.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class NicoTagsController < ApplicationController
     if link_status.in?(['linked', 'unlinked'])
       exists_sql =
           'EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM nico_tag_relations ' \
-          'WHERE nico_tag_relations.nico_tag_id = tags.id)'
+          'WHERE nico_tag_relations.nico_tag_id = external_tags.id)'
       q = link_status == 'linked' ? q.where(exists_sql) : q.where("NOT #{ exists_sql }")
     end
 
@@ -45,21 +45,21 @@ class NicoTagsController < ApplicationController
     sort_sql =
         case order[0]
         when 'name'
-          'tag_names.name'
+          'external_tags.name'
         when 'updated_at'
           'post_tag_max.max_created_at'
         else
-          "tags.#{ order[0] }"
+          "external_tags.#{ order[0] }"
         end
-    tags = q.reselect('tags.*',
+    tags = q.reselect('external_tags.*',
                       Arel.sql('post_tag_max.max_created_at AS recent_post_tag_created_at'))
-            .order(Arel.sql("#{ sort_sql } #{ order[1] }, tags.id #{ order[1] }"))
+            .order(Arel.sql("#{ sort_sql } #{ order[1] }, external_tags.id #{ order[1] }"))
             .limit(limit)
             .offset((page - 1) * limit)
             .to_a
 
     render json: { tags: tags.map { |tag|
-      TagRepr.base(tag).merge(
+      external_tag_json(tag).merge(
           recent_post_tag_created_at: tag.recent_post_tag_created_at,
           linked_tags: tag.linked_tags.map { |lt| TagRepr.base(lt) })
     }, count: }
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ class NicoTagsController < ApplicationController
       tag.linked_tags = linked_tags
       tag.save!
 
-      NicoTagVersionRecorder.record!(tag:, event_type: :update, created_by_user: current_user)
+      NicoTagVersionRecorder.record!(external_tag: tag,
+                                     event_type: :update,
+                                     created_by_user: current_user)
     end
 
     render json: tag.linked_tags.map { |t| TagRepr.base(t) }, status: :ok
@@ -97,6 +99,18 @@ class NicoTagsController < ApplicationController
 
   private
 
+  def external_tag_json tag
+    { id: tag.id,
+      name: "#{ tag.platform }:#{ tag.name }",
+      category: 'nico',
+      post_count: tag.post_count,
+      created_at: tag.created_at,
+      updated_at: tag.created_at,
+      deprecated_at: nil,
+      aliases: [],
+      parents: [] }
+  end
+
   def render_nico_tag_form_record_invalid record
     if record.is_a?(TagName) || record.is_a?(Tag)
       render_validation_error fields: { tags: record.errors.full_messages.map { |message|
diff --git a/backend/app/controllers/post_versions_controller.rb b/backend/app/controllers/post_versions_controller.rb
index d337fe1..5d8d657 100644
--- a/backend/app/controllers/post_versions_controller.rb
+++ b/backend/app/controllers/post_versions_controller.rb
@@ -43,50 +43,19 @@ class PostVersionsController < ApplicationController
   private
 
   def serialise_versions rows
+    rows = rows.to_a
     user_ids = rows.map(&:created_by_user_id).compact.uniq
     users_by_id = User.where(id: user_ids).pluck(:id, :name).to_h
+    snapshots = rows.flat_map { |row|
+      [normalise_json(row.tags_json),
+       normalise_json(row.attributes['prev_tags_json']) || []]
+    }
+    external_tag_names = external_tag_names_for(snapshots)
 
     rows.map do |row|
-      cur_tags =
-          normalise_json(row.tags_json)
-          .sort_by { [(case _1.fetch('category')
-                       when 'deerjikist'
-                         0
-                       when 'meme'
-                         1
-                       when 'character'
-                         2
-                       when 'general'
-                         3
-                       when 'material'
-                         4
-                       when 'meta'
-                         5
-                       else
-                         6
-                       end),
-                      _1.fetch('name').downcase] }
-          .map { Post.tag_snapshot_literal(_1) }
-      prev_tags =
-          (normalise_json(row.attributes['prev_tags_json']) || [])
-          .sort_by { [(case _1.fetch('category')
-                       when 'deerjikist'
-                         0
-                       when 'meme'
-                         1
-                       when 'character'
-                         2
-                       when 'general'
-                         3
-                       when 'material'
-                         4
-                       when 'meta'
-                         5
-                       else
-                         6
-                       end),
-                      _1.fetch('name').downcase] }
-          .map { Post.tag_snapshot_literal(_1) }
+      cur_tags = snapshot_tag_literals(normalise_json(row.tags_json), external_tag_names)
+      prev_tags = snapshot_tag_literals(
+          normalise_json(row.attributes['prev_tags_json']) || [], external_tag_names)
 
       { post_id: row.post_id,
         version_no: row.version_no,
@@ -113,6 +82,40 @@ class PostVersionsController < ApplicationController
     end
   end
 
+  def external_tag_names_for snapshots
+    ids = snapshots.flatten.filter_map { _1['external_tag_id'] }.uniq
+    names = ExternalTag.where(id: ids).pluck(:id, :platform, :name).to_h { |id, platform, name|
+      [id, "#{ platform }:#{ name }"]
+    }
+    missing_ids = ids - names.keys
+
+    NicoTagVersion
+        .where(tag_id: missing_ids)
+        .order(:tag_id, version_no: :desc)
+        .pluck(:tag_id, :name)
+        .each { |id, name| names[id] ||= name }
+
+    names
+  end
+
+  def snapshot_tag_literals snapshots, external_tag_names
+    snapshots
+        .filter_map { |snapshot|
+          if snapshot.key?('tag_id')
+            [tag_category_order(snapshot['category']),
+             Post.tag_snapshot_literal(snapshot)]
+          elsif external_tag_names[snapshot['external_tag_id']]
+            [6, external_tag_names[snapshot['external_tag_id']]]
+          end
+        }
+        .sort_by { |order, name| [order, name.downcase] }
+        .map(&:second)
+  end
+
+  def tag_category_order category
+    ['deerjikist', 'meme', 'character', 'general', 'material', 'meta'].index(category) || 6
+  end
+
   def build_version_tags cur_tags, prev_tags
     (cur_tags | prev_tags).map do |name|
       type =
diff --git a/backend/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb b/backend/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
index 0239644..daa68b2 100644
--- a/backend/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
+++ b/backend/app/controllers/posts_controller.rb
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ class PostsController < ApplicationController
 
   def editable_tag_names_from_version version
     version.tags_json
-        .reject { _1.fetch('category') == 'nico' }
+        .select { _1.key?('tag_id') }
         .map { Post.tag_snapshot_literal(_1) }
         .sort
   end
diff --git a/backend/app/models/nico_tag_relation.rb b/backend/app/models/nico_tag_relation.rb
index ccaa4d2..443937f 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/nico_tag_relation.rb
+++ b/backend/app/models/nico_tag_relation.rb
@@ -7,21 +7,4 @@ class NicoTagRelation < ApplicationRecord
 
   validates :nico_tag_id, presence: true
   validates :tag_id, presence: true
-
-  validate :nico_tag_must_be_nico
-  validate :tag_mustnt_be_nico
-
-  private
-
-  def nico_tag_must_be_nico
-    if nico_tag && nico_tag.category != 'nico'
-      errors.add :nico_tag_id, 'タグのカテゴリがニコニコである必要があります．'
-    end
-  end
-
-  def tag_mustnt_be_nico
-    if tag && tag.category == 'nico'
-      errors.add :tag_id, '連携先タグのカテゴリはニコニコであってはなりません．'
-    end
-  end
 end
diff --git a/backend/app/models/post.rb b/backend/app/models/post.rb
index f10eb07..805e91d 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/backend/app/models/post.rb
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class Post < ApplicationRecord
            inverse_of: :parent_post
   has_many :children, through: :child_post_implications, source: :post
 
-  has_many :post_external_tags, dependent: :delete_all
+  has_many :post_external_tags, dependent: :destroy
   has_many :external_tags, through: :post_external_tags
 
   has_one_attached :thumbnail
diff --git a/backend/app/models/post_external_tag.rb b/backend/app/models/post_external_tag.rb
index 38cb528..1aa4d7e 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/post_external_tag.rb
+++ b/backend/app/models/post_external_tag.rb
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 class PostExternalTag < ApplicationRecord
   belongs_to :post
-  belongs_to :external_tag
+  belongs_to :external_tag, counter_cache: :post_count
 end
diff --git a/backend/app/models/tag.rb b/backend/app/models/tag.rb
index eabe5ba..02346d4 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/tag.rb
+++ b/backend/app/models/tag.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class Tag < ApplicationRecord
 
   has_many :reversed_nico_tag_relations,
            class_name: 'NicoTagRelation',
-           foreign_key: :nico_tag_id,
+           foreign_key: :tag_id,
            dependent: :destroy
   has_many :linked_nico_tags, through: :reversed_nico_tag_relations, source: :nico_tag
 
@@ -71,8 +71,6 @@ class Tag < ApplicationRecord
   validate :tag_name_must_be_canonical
   validate :category_must_be_deerjikist_with_deerjikists
 
-  def self.nico_tags = ExternalTag.where(platform: :nico)
-
   CATEGORY_PREFIXES = {
       'general:'    => :general,
       'gen:'        => :general,
diff --git a/backend/spec/models/nico_tag_relation_spec.rb b/backend/spec/models/nico_tag_relation_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91012f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/spec/models/nico_tag_relation_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+RSpec.describe NicoTagRelation, type: :model do
+  it 'accepts an ExternalTag regardless of its platform' do
+    id = ExternalTag.maximum(:id).to_i + 10_000
+
+    ExternalTag.insert_all!([
+        { id:,
+          platform: 'spec_external',
+          name: 'external_name',
+          post_count: 0,
+          created_at: Time.current }])
+
+    external_tag = ExternalTag.find(id)
+    tag = create(:tag)
+
+    expect(external_tag.platform_before_type_cast).to eq('spec_external')
+    expect {
+      described_class.create!(nico_tag: external_tag, tag:)
+    }.to change(described_class, :count).by(1)
+    expect(tag.linked_nico_tags).to contain_exactly(external_tag)
+  end
+
+  it 'rejects an internal Tag through the external association type' do
+    expect {
+      described_class.new(nico_tag: create(:tag), tag: create(:tag))
+    }.to raise_error(ActiveRecord::AssociationTypeMismatch)
+  end
+
+  it 'rejects an ExternalTag through the internal association type' do
+    expect {
+      described_class.new(nico_tag: create(:external_tag), tag: create(:external_tag))
+    }.to raise_error(ActiveRecord::AssociationTypeMismatch)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/backend/spec/models/tag_spec.rb b/backend/spec/models/tag_spec.rb
index 163873e..d63be45 100644
--- a/backend/spec/models/tag_spec.rb
+++ b/backend/spec/models/tag_spec.rb
@@ -14,13 +14,6 @@ RSpec.describe Tag, type: :model do
       end
     end
 
-    it 'returns external records from the legacy nico_tags entrypoint' do
-      external = create(:external_tag)
-      create(:tag)
-
-      expect(described_class.nico_tags.where(id: external.id)).to contain_exactly(external)
-    end
-
     it 'finds external links by the internal tag id even when ids differ' do
       tag = create(:tag)
       external = create(:external_tag, id: tag.id + 10_000)
diff --git a/backend/spec/requests/nico_tags_spec.rb b/backend/spec/requests/nico_tags_spec.rb
index 3a70909..46faad5 100644
--- a/backend/spec/requests/nico_tags_spec.rb
+++ b/backend/spec/requests/nico_tags_spec.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,47 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe 'NicoTags', type: :request do
   describe 'GET /tags/nico' do
+    it 'returns the legacy Tag-compatible external fields' do
+      external = create(:external_tag, name: 'legacy_external', post_count: 3)
+
+      get '/tags/nico', params: { name: 'legacy_external' }
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+      expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(1)
+      expect(json.fetch('tags')).to contain_exactly(
+          a_hash_including(
+              'id' => external.id,
+              'name' => 'nico:legacy_external',
+              'category' => 'nico',
+              'post_count' => 3,
+              'created_at' => external.created_at.as_json,
+              'updated_at' => external.created_at.as_json,
+              'deprecated_at' => nil,
+              'aliases' => [],
+              'parents' => [],
+              'has_wiki' => false,
+              'material_id' => nil,
+              'has_deerjikists' => false,
+              'linked_tags' => []))
+    end
+
+    it 'lists ExternalTag records from every platform through the legacy URI' do
+      external = create(:external_tag, name: 'platform_contract_nico')
+      other_id = ExternalTag.maximum(:id) + 10_000
+      # A second platform is not registered in the enum yet.
+      ExternalTag.insert_all!([
+          { id: other_id, platform: 'spec_external', name: 'platform_contract_other',
+            post_count: 0, created_at: Time.current }])
+
+      get '/tags/nico', params: { name: 'platform_contract_' }
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+      expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(2)
+      expect(json.fetch('tags')).to contain_exactly(
+          a_hash_including('id' => external.id, 'category' => 'nico'),
+          a_hash_including('id' => other_id, 'category' => 'nico'))
+    end
+
     it 'returns paginated tags and total count' do
       3.times { |i| create(:external_tag, name: "pagination_#{ i }") }
 
diff --git a/backend/spec/requests/posts_spec.rb b/backend/spec/requests/posts_spec.rb
index 71afb9a..5200bfb 100644
--- a/backend/spec/requests/posts_spec.rb
+++ b/backend/spec/requests/posts_spec.rb
@@ -93,6 +93,26 @@ RSpec.describe 'Posts API', type: :request do
     count
   end
 
+  def expect_external_tag_json tag_json, external_tag
+    external_tag.reload
+
+    expect(tag_json).to include(
+        'id' => external_tag.id,
+        'name' => "#{ external_tag.platform }:#{ external_tag.name }",
+        'category' => 'nico',
+        'created_at' => external_tag.created_at.as_json,
+        'updated_at' => external_tag.created_at.as_json,
+        'deprecated_at' => nil,
+        'aliases' => [],
+        'parents' => [],
+        'post_count' => external_tag.post_count,
+        'has_wiki' => false,
+        'material_id' => nil,
+        'has_deerjikists' => false,
+        'children' => [],
+        'sections' => [])
+  end
+
   let!(:tag_name) { TagName.create!(name: 'spec_tag') }
   let!(:tag)      { Tag.create!(tag_name: tag_name, category: :general) }
 
@@ -612,6 +632,30 @@ RSpec.describe 'Posts API', type: :request do
         expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(2)
       end
     end
+
+    it 'returns internal and external tags with colliding ids in the legacy tags array' do
+      external_tag = create(:external_tag, id: tag.id, name: 'post_index_external')
+      PostExternalTag.create!(post: hit_post, external_tag:)
+
+      get '/posts'
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+
+      post_json =
+          json
+          .fetch('posts')
+          .find { _1.fetch('id') == hit_post.id }
+
+      external_json =
+          post_json
+          .fetch('tags')
+          .find { _1['name'] == 'nico:post_index_external' }
+
+      expect(post_json.fetch('tags')).to include(
+          a_hash_including('id' => tag.id, 'name' => tag.name, 'category' => 'general'))
+      expect(external_json).not_to be_nil
+      expect_external_tag_json(external_json, external_tag)
+    end
   end
 
   describe 'GET /posts/:id' do
@@ -769,6 +813,25 @@ RSpec.describe 'Posts API', type: :request do
         expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
         expect(query_count).to be <= 45
       end
+
+      it 'returns external tags as root nodes in the legacy tag tree' do
+        external_tag = create(:external_tag, id: tag.id, name: 'post_detail_external')
+        PostExternalTag.create!(post: post_record, external_tag:)
+
+        request
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+
+        expect(json.fetch('tags')).to include(
+            a_hash_including('id' => tag.id, 'name' => tag.name, 'category' => 'general'))
+        external_json =
+            json
+            .fetch('tags')
+            .find { _1['name'] == 'nico:post_detail_external' }
+
+        expect(external_json).not_to be_nil
+        expect_external_tag_json(external_json, external_tag)
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when post does not exist' do
@@ -1938,6 +2001,14 @@ RSpec.describe 'Posts API', type: :request do
         expect(names).to include('spec_tag')
         expect(names).to include(Tag.no_deerjikist.name)
         expect(post_record.external_tags).to contain_exactly(nico_tag)
+
+        external_json =
+            json
+            .fetch('tags')
+            .find { _1['name'] == "nico:#{ nico_tag.name }" }
+
+        expect(external_json).not_to be_nil
+        expect_external_tag_json(external_json, nico_tag)
       end
 
       it 'allows non-nico tags linked from nico tags to be removed by normal post update' do
@@ -2180,18 +2251,71 @@ RSpec.describe 'Posts API', type: :request do
       expect(first.fetch('created_at')).to eq(t_v1.iso8601)
     end
 
-    it 'does not treat an external id as the internal tag filter' do
-      external_post = create(:post)
-      external = create(:external_tag, id: tag.id)
-      PostExternalTag.create!(post: external_post, external_tag: external)
-      PostVersionRecorder.record!(post: external_post,
-                                  event_type: :create, created_by_user: member)
+    context 'with external tag history' do
+      let(:external_id) { tag.id }
+      let(:external) { create(:external_tag, id: external_id) }
+      let(:external_post) { create(:post) }
 
-      get '/posts/versions', params: { post: external_post.id, tag: tag.id }
+      before do
+        PostExternalTag.create!(post: external_post, external_tag: external)
+        PostVersionRecorder.record!(
+            post: external_post, event_type: :create, created_by_user: member)
 
-      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
-      expect(json.fetch('versions')).to be_empty
-      expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(0)
+        unrelated_post = create(:post)
+        PostExternalTag.create!(post: unrelated_post, external_tag: create(:external_tag))
+        PostVersionRecorder.record!(
+            post: unrelated_post, event_type: :create, created_by_user: member)
+      end
+
+      it 'prefers Tag over ExternalTag for the legacy tag parameter' do
+        get '/posts/versions', params: { tag: tag.id }
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+        expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(3)
+        expect(json.fetch('versions').map { [_1.fetch('post_id'), _1.fetch('version_no')] })
+            .to contain_exactly(
+                [post_record.id, 1], [post_record.id, 2], [other_post_version.post_id, 1])
+      end
+
+      it 'explicitly filters ExternalTag even when its id collides with Tag' do
+        get '/posts/versions', params: { external_tag: external.id }
+
+        expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+        expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(1)
+        expect(json.fetch('versions')).to contain_exactly(
+            a_hash_including('post_id' => external_post.id, 'version_no' => 1))
+      end
+
+      context 'without an internal Tag with the external id' do
+        let(:external_id) { Tag.maximum(:id).to_i + 10_000 }
+
+        it 'falls back to ExternalTag for the legacy tag parameter' do
+          expect(Tag.exists?(external.id)).to be(false)
+
+          get '/posts/versions', params: { tag: external.id }
+
+          expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+          expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(1)
+          expect(json.fetch('versions')).to contain_exactly(
+              a_hash_including('post_id' => external_post.id, 'version_no' => 1))
+        end
+
+        [:tag, :external_tag].each do |parameter|
+          it "includes external tag removal history through #{ parameter }" do
+            external_post.post_external_tags.destroy_all
+            PostVersionRecorder.record!(
+                post: external_post.reload, event_type: :update, created_by_user: member)
+
+            get '/posts/versions', params: { parameter => external.id }
+
+            expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+            expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(2)
+            expect(json.fetch('versions')).to contain_exactly(
+                a_hash_including('post_id' => external_post.id, 'version_no' => 1),
+                a_hash_including('post_id' => external_post.id, 'version_no' => 2))
+          end
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     it 'can render history containing external identifiers' do
diff --git a/backend/spec/requests/tags_spec.rb b/backend/spec/requests/tags_spec.rb
index 4d48d60..e4f167f 100644
--- a/backend/spec/requests/tags_spec.rb
+++ b/backend/spec/requests/tags_spec.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,48 @@ RSpec.describe 'Tags API', type: :request do
   end
 
   describe 'GET /tags' do
+    it 'includes legacy external JSON alongside an internal tag with the same id' do
+      external = create(:external_tag, id: tag.id, name: 'spec_external', post_count: 3)
+
+      get '/tags', params: { name: 'spec_' }
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+      expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(2)
+      expect(response_tags).to contain_exactly(
+          a_hash_including('id' => tag.id, 'name' => tag.name, 'category' => 'general'),
+          a_hash_including(
+              'id' => external.id,
+              'name' => 'nico:spec_external',
+              'category' => 'nico',
+              'post_count' => 3,
+              'created_at' => external.created_at.as_json,
+              'updated_at' => external.created_at.as_json,
+              'deprecated_at' => nil,
+              'aliases' => [],
+              'parents' => [],
+              'has_wiki' => false,
+              'material_id' => nil,
+              'has_deerjikists' => false))
+    end
+
+    it 'uses category nico to select ExternalTag records regardless of platform' do
+      external = create(:external_tag, name: 'platform_contract_nico')
+      create(:tag, name: 'platform_contract_internal')
+      other_id = ExternalTag.maximum(:id) + 10_000
+      # A second platform is not registered in the enum yet.
+      ExternalTag.insert_all!([
+          { id: other_id, platform: 'spec_external', name: 'platform_contract_other',
+            post_count: 0, created_at: Time.current }])
+
+      get '/tags', params: { category: 'nico', name: 'platform_contract_' }
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+      expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(2)
+      expect(response_tags).to contain_exactly(
+          a_hash_including('id' => external.id, 'category' => 'nico'),
+          a_hash_including('id' => other_id, 'category' => 'nico'))
+    end
+
     it 'returns tags with count and metadata' do
       get '/tags'
 
@@ -171,7 +213,8 @@ RSpec.describe 'Tags API', type: :request do
       expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
       expect(response_names).to eq([
           'cat_deerjikist', 'cat_meme', 'cat_character',
-          'cat_general', 'cat_material', 'cat_meta'])
+          'cat_general', 'cat_material', 'cat_meta', 'nico:cat_nico'])
+      expect(json.fetch('count')).to eq(7)
     end
 
     it 'paginates and keeps total count' do
@@ -305,8 +348,11 @@ RSpec.describe 'Tags API', type: :request do
           .to eq(['nico:mixed_external', 'mixed_internal'])
       expect(json.first).to include(
           'id' => external.id, 'category' => 'nico', 'post_count' => 3,
-          'deprecated_at' => nil, 'matched_alias' => nil)
-      expect(json.first.fetch('updated_at')).to eq(json.first.fetch('created_at'))
+          'created_at' => external.created_at.as_json,
+          'updated_at' => external.created_at.as_json,
+          'deprecated_at' => nil, 'matched_alias' => nil,
+          'aliases' => [], 'parents' => [], 'has_wiki' => false,
+          'material_id' => nil, 'has_deerjikists' => false)
     end
 
     it 'matches an external tag by its platform prefix' do
@@ -341,7 +387,7 @@ RSpec.describe 'Tags API', type: :request do
       expect(json.map { |row| row.fetch('name') }).to eq(expected.first(20))
     end
 
-    it 'excludes external and alias-only matches when nico is false' do
+    it 'excludes external tags but preserves internal alias matches when nico is false' do
       internal = Tag.create!(category: :general, name: 'switch_internal', post_count: 1)
       alias_target = Tag.create!(category: :general, name: 'alias_target', post_count: 1)
       TagName.create!(name: 'switch_alias', canonical: alias_target.tag_name)
@@ -349,7 +395,11 @@ RSpec.describe 'Tags API', type: :request do
 
       get '/tags/autocomplete', params: { q: 'switch', nico: '0' }
 
-      expect(json.map { |row| row.fetch('id') }).to eq([internal.id])
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:ok)
+      expect(json).to contain_exactly(
+          a_hash_including('id' => internal.id, 'name' => internal.name),
+          a_hash_including('id' => alias_target.id, 'name' => alias_target.name,
+                           'matched_alias' => 'switch_alias'))
     end
 
     ['%', '_'].each do |wildcard|