diff --git a/docs/index-contract.md b/docs/index-contract.md
index 5b0cfb9..4582af5 100644
--- a/docs/index-contract.md
+++ b/docs/index-contract.md
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ candidate retrieval and graph joins. Readers are query-only
 (`src/store/read_access.rs:open_read`): they open the index read-only, run no
 schema or metadata writes, wait at most 2 s on a lock, and are interrupted when
 the request's 20 s query deadline (`src/daemon/deadline.rs`) expires, answering
-`timed_out`. A missing index or generation 0 answers `index_warming`. Only
+`timed_out`; in-request reconciliation (`--no-daemon`, an unpublished index)
+pauses that clock. A missing index or generation 0 answers `index_warming`. Only
 indexing, sessions, and the reconciler open the writer (`Store::open`). A reader
 may read a linked worktree's current bytes through its parent member's index
 (root-relative paths address the same files); its result sets are saved in the
diff --git a/src/cli/dispatch.rs b/src/cli/dispatch.rs
index 40969a0..778982a 100644
--- a/src/cli/dispatch.rs
+++ b/src/cli/dispatch.rs
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@ fn local_dispatch(
             ),
         };
     }
-    let deadline = QueryDeadline::start();
+    let mut deadline = QueryDeadline::start();
     let mut store = if matches!(verb, "show" | "more" | "ctx" | "search" | "refs" | "map") {
-        read_store(root, cache, verb, daemon_running, deadline)?
+        read_store(root, cache, verb, daemon_running, &mut deadline)?
     } else {
         Store::open(root, cache)?
     };
@@ -285,21 +285,23 @@ fn local_dispatch(
 }
 
 /// The query-only store for a read verb. `--no-daemon` searches reconcile
-/// first; an unpublished index is reconciled in the request.
+/// first; an unpublished index is reconciled in the request. Reconciliation
+/// is paused off `deadline`, so only the query spends its budget.
 fn read_store(
     root: &Path,
     cache: &Path,
     verb: &str,
     daemon_running: bool,
-    deadline: QueryDeadline,
+    deadline: &mut QueryDeadline,
 ) -> Result<Store> {
+    let reconcile = || Store::open(root, cache)?.index().map(drop);
     if !daemon_running && matches!(verb, "search" | "refs" | "map") {
-        Store::open(root, cache)?.index()?;
+        deadline.pause_during(reconcile)?;
     }
-    match Store::open_read(root, cache, deadline) {
+    match Store::open_read(root, cache, *deadline) {
         Err(error) if is_index_warming(&error) => {
-            Store::open(root, cache)?.index()?;
-            Store::open_read(root, cache, deadline)
+            deadline.pause_during(reconcile)?;
+            Store::open_read(root, cache, *deadline)
         }
         opened => opened,
     }
@@ -312,3 +314,29 @@ fn ensure_semantic_check_arity(options: &Arguments) -> Result<()> {
     );
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn slow_in_request_reconcile_leaves_the_query_budget_intact() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let cache = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        crate::daemon::deadline::write_slow_reconcile_fixture(root.path(), "alpha");
+        let budget = Duration::from_millis(100);
+        let mut deadline = QueryDeadline::after(budget);
+        let started = Instant::now();
+        let store = read_store(root.path(), cache.path(), "search", false, &mut deadline).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            started.elapsed() > budget,
+            "reconcile finished within the budget"
+        );
+        let query = search::Query::parse("sym:alpha").unwrap();
+        let found = search::search(&store, &query, false, cache.path())
+            .map_err(|error| deadline.classify(error))
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(!found.hits.is_empty());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/daemon/deadline.rs b/src/daemon/deadline.rs
index fc1f831..89dd006 100644
--- a/src/daemon/deadline.rs
+++ b/src/daemon/deadline.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@ impl QueryDeadline {
         self.expires.saturating_duration_since(Instant::now())
     }
 
+    /// Runs `work` off the query clock: the deadline moves later by the time it
+    /// took. In-request reconciliation uses this so indexing never spends a
+    /// query's budget; stores opened earlier keep their old deadline.
+    pub fn pause_during<T>(&mut self, work: impl FnOnce() -> T) -> T {
+        let started = Instant::now();
+        let result = work();
+        self.expires += started.elapsed();
+        result
+    }
+
     /// `wait`, shortened so it never outlives this deadline.
     pub fn cap(&self, wait: Duration) -> Duration {
         wait.min(self.remaining())
@@ -65,6 +75,22 @@ pub fn is_timed_out(error: &anyhow::Error) -> bool {
         .is_some_and(|rest| rest.starts_with(':'))
 }
 
+/// Writes enough Rust sources under `root` that reconciling them outlasts a
+/// 100 ms query budget, plus one file defining `pub fn NAME`.
+#[cfg(test)]
+pub(crate) fn write_slow_reconcile_fixture(root: &std::path::Path, name: &str) {
+    let mut body = String::with_capacity(64 * 48);
+    for item in 0..64 {
+        body.push_str(&format!(
+            "pub fn filler_{item}(value: u8) -> u8 {{ value + {item} }}\n"
+        ));
+    }
+    for file in 0..48 {
+        std::fs::write(root.join(format!("filler_{file}.rs")), &body).unwrap();
+    }
+    std::fs::write(root.join("target.rs"), format!("pub fn {name}() {{}}\n")).unwrap();
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -83,6 +109,14 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn paused_work_does_not_spend_the_budget() {
+        let mut deadline = QueryDeadline::after(Duration::from_millis(100));
+        deadline.pause_during(|| std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(200)));
+        assert!(!deadline.expired());
+        assert!(deadline.remaining() > Duration::from_millis(50));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn classify_relabels_only_sqlite_interrupts() {
         let deadline = QueryDeadline::start();
diff --git a/src/source/reextraction.rs b/src/source/reextraction.rs
index 3a93caa..26ec8ff 100644
--- a/src/source/reextraction.rs
+++ b/src/source/reextraction.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 //! Current-bytes definition lookup for files whose published revision is behind
 //! disk: extracts one file in memory without touching any index.
-use super::{MAX_READ_BYTES, line_span, read_contained};
+use super::{line_span, read_contained};
 use crate::{
+    extract::Extraction,
     identity::{ByteSpan, ContentRevision},
     results::Hit,
 };
-use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::{Result, bail, ensure};
 use std::path::Path;
 
 /// One definition located in a file's current bytes; unpublished, so unverified
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@ impl ReextractedDefinition {
 
 /// Reads root-relative `path` under `root`, extracts it, and returns the
 /// definition named `name` (of `kind`, any kind when empty) whose first line
-/// is nearest `near_line`; earlier definitions win ties.
+/// is nearest `near_line`; earlier definitions win ties. Files the index
+/// excludes and extractions that yield no facts are errors, not `None`.
 pub fn reextract_definition(
     root: &Path,
     path: &str,
@@ -56,8 +58,16 @@ pub fn reextract_definition(
     kind: &str,
     near_line: usize,
 ) -> Result<Option<ReextractedDefinition>> {
-    let bytes = read_contained(root, &crate::store::decode_path(path)?, MAX_READ_BYTES)?;
-    let extraction = crate::extract::extract(path, &bytes);
+    let bytes = read_contained(
+        root,
+        &crate::store::decode_path(path)?,
+        crate::store::MAX_SOURCE_BYTES as usize,
+    )?;
+    ensure!(
+        !bytes.contains(&0),
+        "source_excluded: {path} is binary; the index does not extract it"
+    );
+    let extraction = usable_extraction(path, crate::extract::extract(path, &bytes))?;
     let Some(definition) = extraction
         .definitions
         .into_iter()
@@ -92,6 +102,20 @@ pub fn reextract_definition(
     }))
 }
 
+/// A cancelled extraction, or one that failed without any facts, leaves the
+/// file's definitions unknown rather than absent.
+fn usable_extraction(path: &str, extraction: Extraction) -> Result<Extraction> {
+    let factless_failure = extraction.definitions.is_empty()
+        && !matches!(extraction.status.as_str(), "complete" | "lexical_only");
+    if extraction.status == "cancelled" || factless_failure {
+        bail!(
+            "extraction_unavailable: {path} extraction {}; its definitions are unknown",
+            extraction.status
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(extraction)
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
@@ -124,6 +148,23 @@ mod tests {
                 .unwrap()
                 .is_none()
         );
+        std::fs::write(root.path().join("blob.rs"), b"fn helper() {}\0").unwrap();
+        let binary = reextract_definition(root.path(), "blob.rs", "helper", "", 1)
+            .err()
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            binary.to_string().starts_with("source_excluded"),
+            "{binary:#}"
+        );
+        let cancelled = Extraction {
+            status: "cancelled".into(),
+            ..Extraction::default()
+        };
+        let error = usable_extraction("lib.rs", cancelled).err().unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            error.to_string().contains("extraction cancelled"),
+            "{error:#}"
+        );
         let hit = found.hit();
         assert_eq!(hit.provenance.as_deref(), Some("reextracted"));
         assert_eq!(hit.revision, Some(found.revision.to_string()));
diff --git a/src/store.rs b/src/store.rs
index 74f681f..e05cbf4 100644
--- a/src/store.rs
+++ b/src/store.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 pub use paths::{decode_path, encode_path};
 pub use read_access::is_index_warming;
 use rusqlite::Connection;
-pub(crate) use scan::extraction_cache_version;
+pub(crate) use scan::{MAX_SOURCE_BYTES, extraction_cache_version};
 pub use seed::{SeedOutcome, ensure_seeded};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
diff --git a/src/store/scan.rs b/src/store/scan.rs
index b5ad82d..d068cfc 100644
--- a/src/store/scan.rs
+++ b/src/store/scan.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use rusqlite::{Connection, OptionalExtension, Transaction, params};
 use std::path::Path;
 
-const MAX_SOURCE_BYTES: u64 = 2 * 1024 * 1024;
+pub(crate) const MAX_SOURCE_BYTES: u64 = 2 * 1024 * 1024;
 const MAX_FACTS: usize = 50_000;
 const EXTRACTION_CONTRACT_REVISION: u32 = 5;
 
diff --git a/src/workspace/navigation.rs b/src/workspace/navigation.rs
index 45c7568..4927854 100644
--- a/src/workspace/navigation.rs
+++ b/src/workspace/navigation.rs
@@ -49,13 +49,23 @@ pub(super) fn read(
     results: &WorkspaceResults,
     options: &Arguments,
     budget: &OutputBudget,
+) -> Result<String> {
+    let deadline = QueryDeadline::start();
+    read_within(config, results, options, budget, deadline)
+        .map_err(|error| deadline.classify(error))
+}
+fn read_within(
+    config: &WorkspaceConfig,
+    results: &WorkspaceResults,
+    options: &Arguments,
+    budget: &OutputBudget,
+    deadline: QueryDeadline,
 ) -> Result<String> {
     let target = options
         .words
         .get(1)
         .context("usage: show TARGET | ctx HANDLE")?;
     let side = options.side.as_deref().map(SourceSide::parse).transpose()?;
-    let deadline = QueryDeadline::start();
     let is_context = options.words[0] == "ctx";
     let addressed = target.starts_with("read:")
         || target.parse::<ResultHandle>().is_ok()
@@ -152,7 +162,10 @@ pub(super) fn history(
     let member = if let Some((set, index)) = &retained {
         let owner = &set.owners[set.hits[*index].owner];
         verify_selection(owner, options)?;
-        let _ = owner.open(config, QueryDeadline::start())?;
+        let deadline = QueryDeadline::start();
+        owner
+            .open(config, deadline)
+            .map_err(|error| deadline.classify(error))?;
         owner.member_root(config)?
     } else {
         selected_member(config, options)?
diff --git a/src/workspace/retrieval.rs b/src/workspace/retrieval.rs
index f0bd3a2..b5c3757 100644
--- a/src/workspace/retrieval.rs
+++ b/src/workspace/retrieval.rs
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ pub(super) fn search(
     options: &Arguments,
     context: &RequestContext,
     session: &mut SemanticSession,
-    deadline: QueryDeadline,
+    mut deadline: QueryDeadline,
 ) -> Result<String> {
     let roots = config.member_roots(&options.root.canonicalize()?)?;
     let Scope {
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ pub(super) fn search(
             member.verify_identity()?;
             coordinator::ensure_member(member, options)?;
             if options.no_daemon {
-                Store::open(&member.root, &member_cache)?.index()?;
+                deadline.pause_during(|| Store::open(&member.root, &member_cache)?.index())?;
             }
             let store = open_member_read(member, &member_cache, !options.no_daemon, deadline)?;
             let preparation_error = if semantic && !options.no_daemon {
@@ -314,7 +314,11 @@ pub(super) fn search(
         }
     }
     ensure!(
-        !set.owners.is_empty() || !deadline.expired(),
+        !set.owners.is_empty()
+            || !set
+                .coverage
+                .iter()
+                .any(|member| member["state"] == "timed_out"),
         "{TIMED_OUT}: query deadline expired before any member answered"
     );
     ensure!(
diff --git a/src/workspace/tests.rs b/src/workspace/tests.rs
index 1a46ed5..d2e2262 100644
--- a/src/workspace/tests.rs
+++ b/src/workspace/tests.rs
@@ -294,10 +294,11 @@ fn explicit_scopes_limit_members_and_unavailable_members_remain_visible() {
     );
 }
 
-#[test]
-fn expired_query_deadline_answers_timed_out() {
-    let fixture = Fixture::new();
-    fixture.json("engine", &["search", "sym:SharedThing", "ws:all"]);
+/// Runs `search sym:SharedThing ws:all` (`--no-daemon`) from `engine` under `deadline`.
+fn search_all_with_deadline(
+    fixture: &Fixture,
+    deadline: crate::daemon::deadline::QueryDeadline,
+) -> Result<String> {
     let args: Vec<String> = [
         "--workspace",
         fixture.config.to_str().unwrap(),
@@ -317,19 +318,61 @@ fn expired_query_deadline_answers_timed_out() {
     let options = cli::parse(&args).unwrap();
     let config = WorkspaceConfig::load(&fixture.config).unwrap();
     let cache = cache_path(&config, Some(fixture.cache.path())).unwrap();
-    let error = retrieval::search(
+    retrieval::search(
         &config,
         &cache,
         &WorkspaceResults::open(&cache).unwrap(),
         &options,
         &cli::request_context(&options),
         &mut crate::semantic::SemanticSession::default(),
+        deadline,
+    )
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn expired_query_deadline_answers_timed_out() {
+    let fixture = Fixture::new();
+    fixture.json("engine", &["search", "sym:SharedThing", "ws:all"]);
+    let error = search_all_with_deadline(
+        &fixture,
         crate::daemon::deadline::QueryDeadline::after(std::time::Duration::ZERO),
     )
     .unwrap_err();
     assert!(crate::daemon::deadline::is_timed_out(&error), "{error:#}");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn member_reconciles_do_not_spend_the_query_deadline() {
+    let fixture = Fixture::new();
+    for member in ["engine", "pack", "upstream"] {
+        crate::daemon::deadline::write_slow_reconcile_fixture(
+            &fixture.root.path().join(member),
+            "unrelated",
+        );
+    }
+    // Three members' reconciles together outlast the budget; their queries do not.
+    let budget = std::time::Duration::from_millis(750);
+    let started = std::time::Instant::now();
+    let output = search_all_with_deadline(
+        &fixture,
+        crate::daemon::deadline::QueryDeadline::after(budget),
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    assert!(
+        started.elapsed() > budget,
+        "reconciles finished within the budget"
+    );
+    let page: Value = serde_json::from_str(&output).unwrap();
+    let states: Vec<_> = page["coverage"]
+        .as_array()
+        .unwrap()
+        .iter()
+        .map(|member| member["state"].as_str().unwrap())
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(states, ["searched"; 3]);
+    assert_eq!(page["hits"].as_array().unwrap().len(), 3);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn removed_and_replaced_members_cannot_retarget_retained_handles() {
     let fixture = Fixture::new();