diff --git a/backend/app.go b/backend/app.go
index c4a659c..bb032ce 100644
--- a/backend/app.go
+++ b/backend/app.go
@@ -198,8 +198,17 @@ func (yj *YellowJacketApp) OnStartup(ctx context.Context) {
 	// orchestrate queue clearing and playlist restoration
 	// without depending on those packages directly.
 	yj.library.SetRescanHooks(library.RescanHooks{
-		PreClear: yj.queue.Clear,
-		PostScan: yj.playlist.RestoreAllPlaylists,
+		PreClear: func() {
+			yj.queue.Clear()
+			// Stop the search index build so it doesn't fight
+			// with the rescan for DB access.
+			yj.explore.StopIndexBuild()
+		},
+		PostScan: func() {
+			yj.playlist.RestoreAllPlaylists()
+			// Restart the index build now that the scan is done.
+			yj.explore.StartIndexBuild()
+		},
 	})
 
 	// Wire scan hooks so the playlist service can resolve
@@ -319,5 +328,9 @@ func (yj *YellowJacketApp) OnDomReady(ctx context.Context) {
 		if err := yj.library.SoftScanAllLibraries(); err != nil {
 			yj.logger.Error("soft scan failed", "err", err)
 		}
+
+		// Start the explore search index build AFTER the library
+		// scan completes so they don't fight for DB access.
+		yj.explore.StartIndexBuild()
 	}()
 }
diff --git a/backend/explore/explore.go b/backend/explore/explore.go
index b98b5f8..5b6c765 100644
--- a/backend/explore/explore.go
+++ b/backend/explore/explore.go
@@ -63,7 +63,19 @@ func NewExploreService(logger *slog.Logger, db *database.DB) *Service {
 // OnStartup after the Wails runtime is initialised.
 func (e *Service) SetContext(ctx context.Context) {
 	e.ctx = ctx
-	e.index.StartBuild(ctx)
+}
+
+// StartIndexBuild kicks off the background search index build.
+// Call this after the library scan completes so the indexer doesn't
+// starve the scan for DB access.
+func (e *Service) StartIndexBuild() {
+	e.index.StartBuild(e.ctx)
+}
+
+// StopIndexBuild cancels the background search index build.
+// Call before a full rescan to free the DB for the scan.
+func (e *Service) StopIndexBuild() {
+	e.index.StopBuild()
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/backend/explore/searchindex.go b/backend/explore/searchindex.go
index ededa88..e90e804 100644
--- a/backend/explore/searchindex.go
+++ b/backend/explore/searchindex.go
@@ -128,30 +128,57 @@ func NewSearchIndex(
 		lb:        lb,
 		artistImg: artistImg,
 		logger:    logger,
-		done:      make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 }
 
 // StartBuild launches the background index build goroutine.
 // Returns immediately.
 func (si *SearchIndex) StartBuild(ctx context.Context) {
+	si.mu.Lock()
+	// Don't start if already running.
+	if si.cancel != nil {
+		si.mu.Unlock()
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	si.done = make(chan struct{})
+	si.mu.Unlock()
+
 	buildCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+
+	si.mu.Lock()
 	si.cancel = cancel
+	si.mu.Unlock()
 
 	go func() {
-		defer close(si.done)
+		defer func() {
+			si.mu.Lock()
+			si.cancel = nil
+			si.mu.Unlock()
+
+			close(si.done)
+		}()
 
 		si.build(buildCtx)
 	}()
 }
 
 // StopBuild cancels an in-flight build and waits for it to finish.
+// Safe to call even if no build is running.
 func (si *SearchIndex) StopBuild() {
-	if si.cancel != nil {
-		si.cancel()
+	si.mu.RLock()
+	cancel := si.cancel
+	done := si.done
+	si.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	if cancel != nil {
+		cancel()
 	}
 
-	<-si.done
+	if done != nil {
+		<-done
+	}
 }
 
 // IsReady returns true once the index has been built at least once.