diff --git a/src/lib/components/SearchBar.svelte b/src/lib/components/SearchBar.svelte
index 32c517a..fdbcf18 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/SearchBar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/SearchBar.svelte
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { notes, loadNotes, currentFilter } from '$lib/stores/notes.js';
+	import { searchQuery, searchResults } from '$lib/stores/notes.js';
 	import type { Note } from '$lib/types/index.js';
 	import Search from 'lucide-svelte/icons/search';
 	import X from 'lucide-svelte/icons/x';
 	import ArrowLeft from 'lucide-svelte/icons/arrow-left';
+	import { onDestroy } from 'svelte';
 
 	interface Props {
 		onClose?: () => void;
@@ -12,41 +13,58 @@
 	let { onClose }: Props = $props();
 
 	let query = $state('');
-	let originalNotes: Note[] = [];
-	let isSearching = $state(false);
 	let inputEl: HTMLInputElement | undefined = $state();
+	let searchController: AbortController | undefined;
 
 	$effect(() => {
 		if (onClose) inputEl?.focus();
 	});
 
+	onDestroy(() => {
+		searchController?.abort();
+		searchQuery.set('');
+		searchResults.set([]);
+	});
+
 	async function handleSearch() {
-		if (!query.trim()) {
-			if (isSearching) {
-				notes.set(originalNotes);
-				isSearching = false;
-			}
+		searchController?.abort();
+		searchController = undefined;
+
+		const trimmedQuery = query.trim();
+		searchQuery.set(trimmedQuery);
+
+		if (!trimmedQuery) {
+			searchResults.set([]);
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if (!isSearching) {
-			notes.subscribe((n) => (originalNotes = n))();
-			isSearching = true;
-		}
+		const controller = new AbortController();
+		searchController = controller;
 
-		const res = await fetch(`/api/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}`);
-		if (res.ok) {
-			const results = await res.json();
-			notes.set(results);
+		try {
+			const res = await fetch(`/api/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(trimmedQuery)}`, {
+				signal: controller.signal
+			});
+			if (res.ok) {
+				const results: Note[] = await res.json();
+				if (searchController !== controller || query.trim() !== trimmedQuery) return;
+				searchResults.set(results);
+			}
+		} catch (error) {
+			if (!(error instanceof DOMException && error.name === 'AbortError')) {
+				console.error('Search failed:', error);
+			}
+		} finally {
+			if (searchController === controller) searchController = undefined;
 		}
 	}
 
 	function clearSearch() {
+		searchController?.abort();
+		searchController = undefined;
 		query = '';
-		if (isSearching) {
-			notes.set(originalNotes);
-			isSearching = false;
-		}
+		searchQuery.set('');
+		searchResults.set([]);
 	}
 
 	function close() {
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts b/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts
index 22d9e92..f7e26f8 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/notes.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
-import { mergeNotesByVersion } from './notes.js';
+import { mergeNotesByVersion, reconcileSearchResults } from './notes.js';
 import type { Note } from '$lib/types/index.js';
 
 function makeNote(overrides: Partial<Note> = {}): Note {
@@ -97,3 +97,17 @@ describe('mergeNotesByVersion', () => {
 		expect(result[1].content).toBe('updated on server');
 	});
 });
+
+describe('reconcileSearchResults', () => {
+	it('updates existing results and removes notes absent from canonical state', () => {
+		const updated = makeNote({ id: 'n1', title: 'Updated', version: 2 });
+		const removed = makeNote({ id: 'n2', title: 'Removed' });
+
+		const result = reconcileSearchResults([updated], [
+			makeNote({ id: 'n1', title: 'Stale', version: 1 }),
+			removed
+		]);
+
+		expect(result).toEqual([updated]);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/notes.ts b/src/lib/stores/notes.ts
index 31617b3..60807c2 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/notes.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/notes.ts
@@ -8,11 +8,29 @@ export const notes = writable<Note[]>([]);
 export const currentFilter = writable<NoteFilter>('all');
 export const selectedTag = writable<string | null>(null);
 export const notesLoaded = writable(false);
+export const searchQuery = writable<string>('');
+export const searchResults = writable<Note[]>([]);
+
+export function reconcileSearchResults(canonicalNotes: Note[], results: Note[]): Note[] {
+	const notesMap = new Map(canonicalNotes.map((note) => [note.id, note]));
+	return results.flatMap((result) => {
+		const updated = notesMap.get(result.id);
+		return updated && !updated.trashed ? [updated] : [];
+	});
+}
+
+// Keep searchResults in sync with note updates/deletions in notes store
+notes.subscribe(($notes) => {
+	searchResults.update(($results) => {
+		if ($results.length === 0) return $results;
+		return reconcileSearchResults($notes, $results);
+	});
+});
 
 export const filteredNotes = derived(
-	[notes, selectedTag, currentFilter],
-	([$notes, $selectedTag, $filter]) => {
-		let result = $notes;
+	[notes, selectedTag, currentFilter, searchQuery, searchResults],
+	([$notes, $selectedTag, $filter, $searchQuery, $searchResults]) => {
+		let result = $searchQuery.trim() ? $searchResults : $notes;
 		if ($filter === 'all') {
 			result = result.filter((n) => !n.trashed && !n.archived);
 		} else if ($filter === 'archived') {
@@ -218,6 +236,7 @@ export async function deleteNote(id: string): Promise<boolean> {
 		const res = await fetch(`/api/notes/${id}`, { method: 'DELETE' });
 		if (res.ok) {
 			notes.update((list) => list.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
+			searchResults.update((list) => list.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
 			await deleteNoteFromIdb(id);
 			return true;
 		}
@@ -225,6 +244,7 @@ export async function deleteNote(id: string): Promise<boolean> {
 	} catch (err) {
 		if (isNetworkError(err)) {
 			notes.update((list) => list.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
+			searchResults.update((list) => list.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
 			await deleteNoteFromIdb(id);
 			await addToSyncQueue({ noteId: id, operation: 'delete', timestamp: Date.now() });
 			showToast('Saved offline — will sync when reconnected', 'info');
@@ -263,6 +283,7 @@ export async function leaveNote(id: string): Promise<boolean> {
 		const res = await fetch(`/api/notes/${id}/collaborators?userId=self`, { method: 'DELETE' });
 		if (res.ok) {
 			notes.update((list) => list.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
+			searchResults.update((list) => list.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
 			await deleteNoteFromIdb(id);
 			return true;
 		}
diff --git a/tests/e2e/search.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/search.spec.ts
index e8c741b..949999a 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/search.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/search.spec.ts
@@ -31,4 +31,56 @@ test.describe('Search', () => {
 		// Then no notes are displayed
 		await expect(page.getByTestId('note-card')).toHaveCount(0);
 	});
+
+	test('Scenario: Background sync preserves active search results', async ({ authenticatedPage: page }) => {
+		await createNote(page, 'Sync Search Target 3812925');
+		await createNote(page, 'Sync Search Other 3812925');
+
+		await page.getByTestId('search-input').fill('Sync Search Target 3812925');
+		await expect(page.getByText('Sync Search Target 3812925')).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByText('Sync Search Other 3812925')).not.toBeVisible();
+
+		const notesReloaded = page.waitForResponse(
+			(response) => response.url().includes('/api/notes?filter=all') && response.ok()
+		);
+		await page.getByTestId('sync-indicator').click();
+		await notesReloaded;
+
+		await expect(page.getByText('Sync Search Target 3812925')).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByText('Sync Search Other 3812925')).not.toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	test('Scenario: A stale response cannot replace newer search results', async ({ authenticatedPage: page }) => {
+		await createNote(page, 'Race Slow 3812925');
+		await createNote(page, 'Race Fast 3812925');
+
+		const slowResponse = await page.request.get('/api/search?q=Race%20Slow%203812925');
+		const fastResponse = await page.request.get('/api/search?q=Race%20Fast%203812925');
+		const slowResults = await slowResponse.json();
+		const fastResults = await fastResponse.json();
+
+		await page.route('**/api/search?*', async (route) => {
+			const requestQuery = new URL(route.request().url()).searchParams.get('q');
+			if (requestQuery === 'Race Slow 3812925') {
+				await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 250));
+				await route.fulfill({ json: slowResults });
+				return;
+			}
+			await route.fulfill({ json: fastResults });
+		});
+
+		const searchInput = page.getByTestId('search-input');
+		const slowRequestStarted = page.waitForRequest(
+			(request) => new URL(request.url()).searchParams.get('q') === 'Race Slow 3812925'
+		);
+		await searchInput.fill('Race Slow 3812925');
+		await slowRequestStarted;
+		await searchInput.fill('Race Fast 3812925');
+
+		await expect(page.getByText('Race Fast 3812925')).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByText('Race Slow 3812925')).not.toBeVisible();
+		await page.waitForTimeout(300);
+		await expect(page.getByText('Race Fast 3812925')).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByText('Race Slow 3812925')).not.toBeVisible();
+	});
 });