diff --git a/src/basic_memory/repository/milvus_repository.py b/src/basic_memory/repository/milvus_repository.py
index 0d6a870b8..815f102de 100644
--- a/src/basic_memory/repository/milvus_repository.py
+++ b/src/basic_memory/repository/milvus_repository.py
@@ -239,6 +239,13 @@ def collection_dimensions(self, collection_name: str) -> int | None:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Milvus collection '{collection_name}' requires a COSINE index on 'embedding'."
             )
+        # Milvus Lite releases persisted collections when the owning process exits.
+        # Fresh CLI processes must load a compatible existing collection before any
+        # search, query, or orphan-reconciliation operation can use it.
+        self._client.load_collection(
+            collection_name=collection_name,
+            timeout=self._timeout,
+        )
         return dimensions
 
     def create_collection(self, collection_name: str, dimensions: int) -> bool:
diff --git a/test-int/semantic/test_milvus_lite.py b/test-int/semantic/test_milvus_lite.py
index c73a31d0a..7f4db5e08 100644
--- a/test-int/semantic/test_milvus_lite.py
+++ b/test-int/semantic/test_milvus_lite.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import subprocess
 import sys
 
 import pytest
@@ -23,6 +24,61 @@
 ]
 
 
+_RESTART_SCRIPT = """
+import asyncio
+import sys
+
+from basic_memory.repository.milvus_config import MilvusSettings
+from basic_memory.repository.milvus_index import MilvusVectorIndex
+from basic_memory.repository.semantic_vector_index import (
+    VectorIndexScope,
+    VectorKey,
+    VectorRecord,
+)
+
+
+async def main() -> None:
+    phase, database_path = sys.argv[1:]
+    scope = VectorIndexScope(
+        namespace="restart-database",
+        project_id=7,
+        embedding_identity="Stub:model",
+        dimensions=3,
+    )
+    key = VectorKey(entity_id=1, chunk_key="summary:0")
+    index = MilvusVectorIndex(scope, MilvusSettings(uri=database_path))
+
+    if phase == "write":
+        await index.upsert(
+            [
+                VectorRecord(
+                    key=key,
+                    source_hash="auth-v1",
+                    values=(1.0, 0.0, 0.0),
+                )
+            ]
+        )
+        return
+
+    await index.delete_orphans([key])
+    matches = await index.search((1.0, 0.0, 0.0), limit=1)
+    assert [match.key for match in matches] == [key]
+
+
+asyncio.run(main())
+"""
+
+
+def _run_restart_phase(phase: str, database_path: str) -> None:
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, "-c", _RESTART_SCRIPT, phase, database_path],
+        check=False,
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+    )
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_milvus_lite_vector_lifecycle(tmp_path) -> None:
     scope = VectorIndexScope(
@@ -64,3 +120,10 @@ async def test_milvus_lite_vector_lifecycle(tmp_path) -> None:
 
     await index.delete_orphans([])
     assert await index.search((1.0, 0.0, 0.0), limit=2) == []
+
+
+def test_milvus_lite_reloads_collection_after_process_restart(tmp_path) -> None:
+    database_path = str(tmp_path / "restart-vectors.db")
+
+    _run_restart_phase("write", database_path)
+    _run_restart_phase("read", database_path)
diff --git a/tests/repository/test_milvus_repository.py b/tests/repository/test_milvus_repository.py
index e48f5bd82..0682d6e32 100644
--- a/tests/repository/test_milvus_repository.py
+++ b/tests/repository/test_milvus_repository.py
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         self.index_params = FakeIndexParams()
         self.created: list[dict[str, object]] = []
         self.create_exception: MilvusException | None = None
+        self.loaded: list[dict[str, object]] = []
         self.upserts: list[dict[str, object]] = []
         self.deletes: list[dict[str, object]] = []
         self.iterator = FakeIterator([[{"id": "one"}, {"id": "two"}], []])
@@ -166,6 +167,15 @@ def create_collection(self, **kwargs: object) -> None:
         if self.create_exception is not None:
             raise self.create_exception
 
+    def load_collection(self, *, collection_name: str, timeout: float) -> None:
+        self._record_timeout("load_collection", timeout)
+        self.loaded.append(
+            {
+                "collection_name": collection_name,
+                "timeout": timeout,
+            }
+        )
+
     def upsert(self, **kwargs: object) -> None:
         self._record_kwargs_timeout("upsert", kwargs)
         self.upserts.append(kwargs)
@@ -248,6 +258,7 @@ def test_repository_applies_finite_deadline_to_every_remote_operation(
         "describe_index",
         "has_collection",
         "list_indexes",
+        "load_collection",
         "query_iterator",
         "search",
         "upsert",
@@ -258,7 +269,7 @@ def test_repository_applies_finite_deadline_to_every_remote_operation(
     assert client.searches[0]["consistency_level"] == "Strong"
 
 
-def test_collection_dimensions_reports_missing_and_valid_collection(
+def test_collection_dimensions_reports_missing_and_loads_valid_collection(
     repository: PyMilvusRepository,
     client: FakeClient,
 ) -> None:
@@ -266,6 +277,7 @@ def test_collection_dimensions_reports_missing_and_valid_collection(
 
     client.has_collection_result = True
     assert repository.collection_dimensions("vectors") == 4
+    assert client.loaded == [{"collection_name": "vectors", "timeout": 12.5}]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(