diff --git a/backend/explore/explore.go b/backend/explore/explore.go
index 075d21a..348de18 100644
--- a/backend/explore/explore.go
+++ b/backend/explore/explore.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/wailsapp/wails/v2/pkg/runtime"
+
 	"yellowjacket/backend/database"
 )
 
@@ -337,6 +339,40 @@ func (e *Service) Search(query string) (*MBSearchResult, error) {
 		"elapsed", p0Dur.Round(time.Millisecond),
 	)
 
+	// Emit local results immediately via event so the frontend can
+	// render them while the full pipeline runs.  This avoids the
+	// Wails RPC serialization bottleneck that blocks SearchLocal.
+	if len(indexHits) > 0 {
+		var localResult MBSearchResult
+		mergeIndexHits(&localResult, indexHits)
+
+		// Remove SPAs from local results.
+		if len(localResult.Artists) > 0 {
+			filtered := localResult.Artists[:0]
+			for _, a := range localResult.Artists {
+				if !mbSpecialPurposeArtists[a.MBID] {
+					filtered = append(filtered, a)
+				}
+			}
+
+			localResult.Artists = filtered
+		}
+
+		if len(localResult.Artists) > maxResults {
+			localResult.Artists = localResult.Artists[:maxResults]
+		}
+
+		if len(localResult.ReleaseGroups) > maxResults {
+			localResult.ReleaseGroups = localResult.ReleaseGroups[:maxResults]
+		}
+
+		if len(localResult.Recordings) > maxResults {
+			localResult.Recordings = localResult.Recordings[:maxResults]
+		}
+
+		runtime.EventsEmit(e.ctx, "search:local-results", localResult)
+	}
+
 	// Phase 1: concurrent MB search (3 goroutines) with a deadline
 	// so a slow MusicBrainz server doesn't hold up the whole search.
 	p1Start := time.Now()
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts b/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts
index 314b5dd..310c30d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/components/explore-view/explore-view.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { LitElement, html, css, nothing } from 'lit';
 import { customElement, state, query as litQuery } from 'lit/decorators.js';
 import { designTokens } from '../../styles/tokens.css';
-import { Search, SearchLocal, GetThumbnails, GetArtistImageURL, CheckLibraryMBIDs } from '@go/explore/Service';
+import { Search, GetThumbnails, GetArtistImageURL, CheckLibraryMBIDs } from '@go/explore/Service';
+import { EventsOn } from '@runtime/runtime';
 import type { ThumbnailRequest } from '@go/explore/Service';
 import type {
     MBSearchResult,
@@ -69,6 +70,28 @@ export class ExploreView extends LitElement {
 
     @litQuery('input') private inputEl!: HTMLInputElement;
 
+    /* ── Lifecycle ── */
+
+    override connectedCallback() {
+        super.connectedCallback();
+        EventsOn('search:local-results', (local: MBSearchResult) => {
+            // Only apply if we're actively loading (a search is in flight).
+            if (!this.loading) return;
+            if (local.artists?.length || local.releaseGroups?.length || local.recordings?.length) {
+                this.results = local;
+                this.loadThumbnails();
+                this.loadArtistImages();
+                this.checkLibrary();
+                console.log(
+                    `[explore] local results via event — ` +
+                        `artists=${local.artists?.length ?? 0}, ` +
+                        `albums=${local.releaseGroups?.length ?? 0}, ` +
+                        `tracks=${local.recordings?.length ?? 0}`,
+                );
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     /* ── Styles ── */
 
     static override styles = [
@@ -520,30 +543,11 @@ export class ExploreView extends LitElement {
         const startTime = performance.now();
         console.log(`[explore] search started: "${query}"`);
 
-        // Phase 1: show local index hits instantly (no network).
-        try {
-            const local = await SearchLocal(query);
-            if (version !== this.searchVersion) return;
-            if (local && (local.artists?.length || local.releaseGroups?.length || local.recordings?.length)) {
-                this.results = local;
-                this.loading = false;
-                this.loadThumbnails();
-                this.loadArtistImages();
-                this.checkLibrary();
-                const elapsed = (performance.now() - startTime).toFixed(0);
-                console.log(
-                    `[explore] local results: "${query}" in ${elapsed}ms — ` +
-                        `artists=${local.artists?.length ?? 0}, ` +
-                        `albums=${local.releaseGroups?.length ?? 0}, ` +
-                        `tracks=${local.recordings?.length ?? 0}`,
-                );
-            }
-        } catch {
-            // Local search failed — continue to full search.
-        }
+        // Local index results arrive via the 'search:local-results' event
+        // emitted by the backend at the start of Search(), before the
+        // slow MB/LB pipeline runs.  No separate RPC call needed.
 
-        // Phase 2: full pipeline (MB + LB + reranking).
-        // Fire-and-forget so the local results render immediately.
+        // Full pipeline (MB + LB + reranking).
         void this.executeFullSearch(version, query, startTime);
     }