diff --git a/backend/indexing/embedder.py b/backend/indexing/embedder.py
index 806e620..21c529f 100644
--- a/backend/indexing/embedder.py
+++ b/backend/indexing/embedder.py
@@ -34,6 +34,17 @@ def model(self):
             logger.info("Embedding model loaded.")
         return self._model
 
+    def load(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Force the model to load/download immediately (eager loading).
+
+        Intended to be called during application startup so that the
+        (potentially slow) model download/initialization happens before
+        the server begins accepting HTTP requests, rather than blocking
+        the first incoming request.
+        """
+        _ = self.model
+
     @property
     def dimension(self) -> int:
         """Embedding vector dimension."""
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index dfc0ecf..79466d2 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
     app.state.orchestrator = Orchestrator()
     app.state.database = Database()
 
+    # Eagerly load the embedding model now so the (slow) download/init
+    # happens during startup instead of blocking the first HTTP request.
+    # Without this, the embedder's lazy `@property` defers loading until
+    # first use, causing 502s while the model downloads on first request.
+    logger.info("Eagerly loading embedding model before accepting requests...")
+    app.state.orchestrator.embedder.load()
+    logger.info("Embedding model ready.")
+
     logger.info(
         f"Research Agent API ready. "
         f"Vector store: {app.state.orchestrator.vector_store.count()} passages"