diff --git a/src/documents/search/_backend.py b/src/documents/search/_backend.py
index 68a9aecad..2ccd8c86a 100644
--- a/src/documents/search/_backend.py
+++ b/src/documents/search/_backend.py
@@ -220,6 +220,10 @@ class WriteBatch:
         try:
             if exc_type is None:
                 self._writer.commit()
+                # Wait for background merge threads to finish before releasing
+                # the file lock so the next writer doesn't race against an
+                # in-progress merge on the same index files.
+                self._writer.wait_merging_threads()
                 self._backend._index.reload()
             # Explicitly delete writer to release tantivy's internal lock.
             # On exception the uncommitted writer is simply discarded.
@@ -922,6 +926,9 @@ class TantivyBackend:
                 )
                 writer.add_document(doc)
             writer.commit()
+            # Wait for background merge threads to finish so all segments are
+            # fully merged and persisted before the index is considered rebuilt.
+            writer.wait_merging_threads()
             new_index.reload()
         except BaseException:  # pragma: no cover
             # Restore old index on failure so the backend remains usable