diff --git a/app/watch/watcher.py b/app/watch/watcher.py
index dda8ad2..c397ae9 100644
--- a/app/watch/watcher.py
+++ b/app/watch/watcher.py
@@ -24,14 +24,12 @@ from app.db import get_conn
 from app.db.schema import ensure_schema
 from app.glean.pipeline import _detect_format, _write_batch
 from app.glean.base import _compile, load_patterns, now_iso
-from app.services.search import build_fts_index
 from app.services.models import RetrievedEntry
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 FLUSH_INTERVAL_SEC = 10
 FLUSH_BATCH_SIZE = 100
-FTS_SYNC_EVERY_N_FLUSHES = 3  # sync FTS every ~30s under normal load
 
 
 # ── Config ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -113,22 +111,21 @@ class WatchSource:
 
         ensure_schema(self.db_path)
 
-        with get_conn(self.db_path) as conn:
-            try:
-                cmd = self._build_command()
-                if not cmd:
-                    return
-                self._proc = subprocess.Popen(
-                    cmd,
-                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                    stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
-                    text=True,
-                    bufsize=1,
-                )
-                self._drain(conn, compiled)
-            except Exception as exc:
-                self._error = str(exc)
-                logger.error("Watch source %r crashed: %s", self.config.source_id, exc)
+        try:
+            cmd = self._build_command()
+            if not cmd:
+                return
+            self._proc = subprocess.Popen(
+                cmd,
+                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                text=True,
+                bufsize=1,
+            )
+            self._drain(compiled)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            self._error = str(exc)
+            logger.error("Watch source %r crashed: %s", self.config.source_id, exc)
 
     def _build_command(self) -> list[str] | None:
         t = self.config.source_type
@@ -189,7 +186,7 @@ class WatchSource:
 
         return []
 
-    def _drain(self, conn, compiled) -> None:
+    def _drain(self, compiled) -> None:
         """Read lines from the subprocess and flush to DB periodically."""
         assert self._proc is not None
         buffer: list[str] = []
@@ -217,29 +214,28 @@ class WatchSource:
             should_flush = len(buffer) >= FLUSH_BATCH_SIZE or elapsed >= FLUSH_INTERVAL_SEC
 
             if buffer and should_flush:
-                flush_count = self._flush(conn, buffer, compiled, flush_count)
+                flush_count = self._flush(buffer, compiled, flush_count)
                 buffer.clear()
                 last_flush = datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
 
         # Flush remainder
         if buffer:
-            self._flush(conn, buffer, compiled, flush_count)
+            self._flush(buffer, compiled, flush_count)
 
-    def _flush(self, conn, lines: list[str], compiled, flush_count: int) -> int:
+    def _flush(self, lines: list[str], compiled, flush_count: int) -> int:
         ingest_time = now_iso()
         try:
             entries = self._parse_lines(lines, ingest_time, compiled)
             if entries:
-                _write_batch(conn, entries)
-                conn.commit()
+                with get_conn(self.db_path) as conn:
+                    _write_batch(conn, entries)
+                    conn.commit()
                 self._entry_count += len(entries)
                 self._last_event = now_iso()
                 if entries:
                     self._last_event = entries[-1].timestamp_iso or self._last_event
 
             flush_count += 1
-            if flush_count % FTS_SYNC_EVERY_N_FLUSHES == 0:
-                build_fts_index(self.db_path)
         except Exception as exc:
             logger.warning("Flush error for %r: %s", self.config.source_id, exc)
         return flush_count