diff --git a/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts b/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts
index 637fe0f..22d9e92 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,17 @@ describe('mergeNotesByVersion', () => {
 		expect(result[0].id).toBe('n2');
 	});
 
+	it('preserves local-only notes not present in the incoming data', () => {
+		const localOnly = makeNote({ id: 'n1', version: 1, content: 'just created' });
+		const serverNote = makeNote({ id: 'n2', version: 1, content: 'from server' });
+
+		const result = mergeNotesByVersion([localOnly], [serverNote]);
+
+		expect(result).toHaveLength(2);
+		expect(result.find((n) => n.id === 'n1')?.content).toBe('just created');
+		expect(result.find((n) => n.id === 'n2')?.content).toBe('from server');
+	});
+
 	it('preserves multiple notes correctly during a race condition', () => {
 		const localNotes = [
 			makeNote({ id: 'n1', version: 5, content: '- [x] Just saved' }),
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/notes.ts b/src/lib/stores/notes.ts
index e45b008..31617b3 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/notes.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/notes.ts
@@ -60,11 +60,19 @@ function isNetworkError(err: unknown): boolean {
  */
 export function mergeNotesByVersion(current: Note[], incoming: Note[]): Note[] {
 	const currentMap = new Map(current.map((n) => [n.id, n]));
+	const incomingIds = new Set<string>();
 	const merged = incoming.map((incomingNote) => {
+		incomingIds.add(incomingNote.id);
 		const local = currentMap.get(incomingNote.id);
 		if (local && local.version > incomingNote.version) return local;
 		return incomingNote;
 	});
+	// Preserve local-only notes (e.g. just created, not yet in server/IDB response)
+	for (const local of current) {
+		if (!incomingIds.has(local.id)) {
+			merged.push(local);
+		}
+	}
 	return merged;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/e2e/checklist.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/checklist.spec.ts
index a402d5e..0127218 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/checklist.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/checklist.spec.ts
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ test.describe('Checklist', () => {
 
 	test('Scenario: Multiple checked items persist after closing and reopening', async ({ authenticatedPage: page }) => {
 		// Given a checklist note with three items exists
-		await createChecklistNote(page, 'Groceries', ['Milk', 'Eggs', 'Bread']);
+		await createChecklistNote(page, 'Weekly Shop', ['Milk', 'Eggs', 'Bread']);
 
 		// When the user reopens and checks two items
-		await noteCard(page, 'Groceries').click();
+		await noteCard(page, 'Weekly Shop').click();
 		await page.getByTestId('checklist-checkbox').nth(0).click(); // Milk → done
 		await page.getByTestId('checklist-checkbox').nth(0).click(); // Eggs (now first) → done
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ test.describe('Checklist', () => {
 		await page.getByTestId('close-editor-btn').click();
 
 		// And the checked state persists after reopening
-		await noteCard(page, 'Groceries').click();
+		await noteCard(page, 'Weekly Shop').click();
 		await expect(page.getByTestId('checklist-toggle-done')).toContainText('2 done');
 		await expect(page.getByTestId('checklist-input')).toHaveCount(1); // Only Bread remains active
 		await expect(page.getByTestId('checklist-input').first()).toHaveValue('Bread');