diff --git a/Source/LibationSearchEngine/SearchEngine.cs b/Source/LibationSearchEngine/SearchEngine.cs
index 173e0406..43e55b8f 100644
--- a/Source/LibationSearchEngine/SearchEngine.cs
+++ b/Source/LibationSearchEngine/SearchEngine.cs
@@ -81,10 +81,12 @@ public class SearchEngine
 	public void CreateNewIndex(IEnumerable<LibraryBook> library, bool overwrite = true)
 	{
 		const int maxRetries = 5;
-		const int retryDelayMs = 400;
+		const int baseDelayMs = 400;
 		var libraryList = library.ToList();
 
-		for (var attempt = 0; attempt < maxRetries; attempt++)
+        // Exponential backoff retry: 400 ms, 800 ms, 1600 ms, etc
+		// Total wait time before giving up: 12.4 sec
+        for (var attempt = 0; attempt < maxRetries; attempt++)
 		{
 			try
 			{
@@ -93,15 +95,17 @@ public class SearchEngine
 			}
 			catch (IOException ex) when (attempt < maxRetries - 1)
 			{
+				var delayMs = baseDelayMs * (1 << attempt);
 				// write.lock can be held by another process (e.g. second Libation instance, antivirus) or a prior writer that did not release. Retry after delay.
-				Serilog.Log.Logger.Warning(ex, "Search index lock conflict (attempt {Attempt}/{Max}), retrying in {Delay}ms", attempt + 1, maxRetries, retryDelayMs);
-				Thread.Sleep(retryDelayMs);
+				Serilog.Log.Logger.Warning(ex, "Search index lock conflict (attempt {Attempt}/{Max}), retrying in {Delay}ms", attempt + 1, maxRetries, delayMs);
+				Thread.Sleep(delayMs);
 			}
 			catch (UnauthorizedAccessException ex) when (attempt < maxRetries - 1)
 			{
+				var delayMs = baseDelayMs * (1 << attempt);
 				// Windows may report "file in use" as UnauthorizedAccessException
-				Serilog.Log.Logger.Warning(ex, "Search index lock conflict (attempt {Attempt}/{Max}), retrying in {Delay}ms", attempt + 1, maxRetries, retryDelayMs);
-				Thread.Sleep(retryDelayMs);
+				Serilog.Log.Logger.Warning(ex, "Search index lock conflict (attempt {Attempt}/{Max}), retrying in {Delay}ms", attempt + 1, maxRetries, delayMs);
+				Thread.Sleep(delayMs);
 			}
 		}
 	}