diff --git a/src/app/handlers.rs b/src/app/handlers.rs
index 052f84c..9db14f4 100644
--- a/src/app/handlers.rs
+++ b/src/app/handlers.rs
@@ -1664,6 +1664,24 @@ async fn handle_sync_cmd(
         None
     };
 
+    // In cron mode (--lock), ensure Ollama is running for embeddings
+    if args.lock {
+        let result = lore::core::ollama_mgmt::ensure_ollama(&config.embedding.base_url);
+        if !result.installed {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "Ollama is not installed — embeddings will be skipped. {}",
+                result.install_hint.as_deref().unwrap_or("")
+            );
+        } else if result.started {
+            tracing::info!("Started ollama serve (was not running)");
+        } else if !result.running {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "Failed to start Ollama: {}",
+                result.error.as_deref().unwrap_or("unknown error")
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
     // Surgical mode: run_sync_surgical manages its own recorder, signal, and recording.
     // Skip the normal recorder setup and let the dispatch handle everything.
     if options.is_surgical() {
diff --git a/src/cli/commands/cron.rs b/src/cli/commands/cron.rs
index 53265c7..5e00eb9 100644
--- a/src/cli/commands/cron.rs
+++ b/src/cli/commands/cron.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::core::cron::{
 };
 use crate::core::db::create_connection;
 use crate::core::error::Result;
+use crate::core::ollama_mgmt::{OllamaStatusBrief, ollama_status_brief};
 use crate::core::paths::get_db_path;
 use crate::core::time::ms_to_iso;
 
@@ -143,12 +144,20 @@ pub fn run_cron_status(config: &Config) -> Result<CronStatusInfo> {
     // Query last sync run from DB
     let last_sync = get_last_sync_time(config).unwrap_or_default();
 
-    Ok(CronStatusInfo { status, last_sync })
+    // Quick ollama health check
+    let ollama = ollama_status_brief(&config.embedding.base_url);
+
+    Ok(CronStatusInfo {
+        status,
+        last_sync,
+        ollama,
+    })
 }
 
 pub struct CronStatusInfo {
     pub status: CronStatusResult,
     pub last_sync: Option<LastSyncInfo>,
+    pub ollama: OllamaStatusBrief,
 }
 
 pub struct LastSyncInfo {
@@ -236,6 +245,32 @@ pub fn print_cron_status(info: &CronStatusInfo) {
             last.status
         );
     }
+
+    // Ollama status
+    if info.ollama.installed {
+        if info.ollama.running {
+            println!(
+                "  {} running (auto-started by cron if needed)",
+                Theme::dim().render("ollama:")
+            );
+        } else {
+            println!(
+                "  {} {}",
+                Theme::warning().render("ollama:"),
+                Theme::warning()
+                    .render("installed but not running (will attempt start on next sync)")
+            );
+        }
+    } else {
+        println!(
+            "  {} {}",
+            Theme::error().render("ollama:"),
+            Theme::error().render("not installed — embeddings unavailable")
+        );
+        if let Some(ref hint) = info.ollama.install_hint {
+            println!("            {hint}");
+        }
+    }
     println!();
 }
 
@@ -264,6 +299,7 @@ struct CronStatusData {
     last_sync_at: Option<String>,
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     last_sync_status: Option<String>,
+    ollama: OllamaStatusBrief,
 }
 
 pub fn print_cron_status_json(info: &CronStatusInfo, elapsed_ms: u64) {
@@ -283,6 +319,7 @@ pub fn print_cron_status_json(info: &CronStatusInfo, elapsed_ms: u64) {
             cron_entry: info.status.cron_entry.clone(),
             last_sync_at: info.last_sync.as_ref().map(|s| s.started_at_iso.clone()),
             last_sync_status: info.last_sync.as_ref().map(|s| s.status.clone()),
+            ollama: info.ollama.clone(),
         },
         meta: RobotMeta::new(elapsed_ms),
     };
diff --git a/src/core/mod.rs b/src/core/mod.rs
index 96a883c..8a2a48c 100644
--- a/src/core/mod.rs
+++ b/src/core/mod.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub mod file_history;
 pub mod lock;
 pub mod logging;
 pub mod metrics;
+pub mod ollama_mgmt;
 pub mod path_resolver;
 pub mod paths;
 pub mod project;
diff --git a/src/core/ollama_mgmt.rs b/src/core/ollama_mgmt.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4a53185
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/ollama_mgmt.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,512 @@
+use std::net::{TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::process::Command;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use serde::Serialize;
+
+// ── URL parsing helpers ──
+
+/// Extract the hostname from a URL like `http://gpu-server:11434`.
+/// Handles bracketed IPv6 addresses like `http://[::1]:11434`.
+fn extract_host(base_url: &str) -> &str {
+    let without_scheme = base_url
+        .strip_prefix("http://")
+        .or_else(|| base_url.strip_prefix("https://"))
+        .unwrap_or(base_url);
+    // Handle bracketed IPv6: [::1]:port
+    if without_scheme.starts_with('[') {
+        return without_scheme
+            .find(']')
+            .map_or(without_scheme, |end| &without_scheme[..=end]);
+    }
+    // Take host part (before port colon or path slash)
+    let host = without_scheme.split(':').next().unwrap_or(without_scheme);
+    host.split('/').next().unwrap_or(host)
+}
+
+/// Extract port from a URL like `http://localhost:11434`.
+/// Handles trailing paths and slashes (e.g. `http://host:8080/api`).
+fn extract_port(base_url: &str) -> u16 {
+    base_url
+        .rsplit(':')
+        .next()
+        .and_then(|s| {
+            // Strip any path/fragment after the port digits
+            let port_str = s.split('/').next().unwrap_or(s);
+            port_str.parse().ok()
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(11434)
+}
+
+/// Is this URL pointing at the local machine?
+fn is_local_url(base_url: &str) -> bool {
+    let host = extract_host(base_url);
+    matches!(host, "localhost" | "127.0.0.1" | "::1" | "[::1]")
+}
+
+// ── Detection (sync, fast) ──
+
+/// Check if the `ollama` binary is on PATH. Returns the path if found.
+pub fn find_ollama_binary() -> Option<PathBuf> {
+    Command::new("which")
+        .arg("ollama")
+        .output()
+        .ok()
+        .filter(|o| o.status.success())
+        .map(|o| PathBuf::from(String::from_utf8_lossy(&o.stdout).trim().to_string()))
+}
+
+/// Quick sync check: can we TCP-connect to Ollama's HTTP port?
+/// Resolves the hostname from the URL (supports both local and remote hosts).
+pub fn is_ollama_reachable(base_url: &str) -> bool {
+    let port = extract_port(base_url);
+    let host = extract_host(base_url);
+    let addr_str = format!("{host}:{port}");
+
+    let Ok(mut addrs) = addr_str.to_socket_addrs() else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    let Some(addr) = addrs.next() else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    TcpStream::connect_timeout(&addr, Duration::from_secs(2)).is_ok()
+}
+
+/// Platform-appropriate installation instructions.
+pub fn install_instructions() -> &'static str {
+    if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+        "Install Ollama: brew install ollama  (or https://ollama.ai/download)"
+    } else if cfg!(target_os = "linux") {
+        "Install Ollama: curl -fsSL https://ollama.ai/install.sh | sh"
+    } else {
+        "Install Ollama: https://ollama.ai/download"
+    }
+}
+
+// ── Ensure (sync, may block up to ~10s while waiting for startup) ──
+
+/// Result of attempting to ensure Ollama is running.
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+pub struct OllamaEnsureResult {
+    /// Whether the `ollama` binary was found on PATH.
+    pub installed: bool,
+    /// Whether Ollama was already running before we tried anything.
+    pub was_running: bool,
+    /// Whether we successfully spawned `ollama serve`.
+    pub started: bool,
+    /// Whether Ollama is reachable now (after any start attempt).
+    pub running: bool,
+    /// Error message if something went wrong.
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub error: Option<String>,
+    /// Installation instructions (set when ollama is not installed).
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub install_hint: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Ensure Ollama is running. If not installed, returns error with install
+/// instructions. If installed but not running, attempts to start it.
+///
+/// Only attempts to start `ollama serve` when the configured URL points at
+/// localhost. For remote URLs, only checks reachability.
+///
+/// This blocks for up to ~10 seconds waiting for Ollama to become reachable
+/// after a start attempt. Intended for cron/lock mode where a brief delay
+/// is acceptable.
+pub fn ensure_ollama(base_url: &str) -> OllamaEnsureResult {
+    let is_local = is_local_url(base_url);
+
+    // Step 1: Is the binary installed? (only relevant for local)
+    if is_local {
+        let installed = find_ollama_binary().is_some();
+        if !installed {
+            return OllamaEnsureResult {
+                installed: false,
+                was_running: false,
+                started: false,
+                running: false,
+                error: Some("Ollama is not installed".to_string()),
+                install_hint: Some(install_instructions().to_string()),
+            };
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Step 2: Already running?
+    if is_ollama_reachable(base_url) {
+        return OllamaEnsureResult {
+            installed: true,
+            was_running: true,
+            started: false,
+            running: true,
+            error: None,
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+    }
+
+    // Step 3: For remote URLs, we can't start ollama — just report unreachable
+    if !is_local {
+        return OllamaEnsureResult {
+            installed: true, // unknown, but irrelevant for remote
+            was_running: false,
+            started: false,
+            running: false,
+            error: Some(format!(
+                "Ollama at {base_url} is not reachable (remote — cannot auto-start)"
+            )),
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+    }
+
+    // Step 4: Try to start it (local only)
+    let spawn_result = Command::new("ollama")
+        .arg("serve")
+        .stdout(std::process::Stdio::null())
+        .stderr(std::process::Stdio::null())
+        .spawn();
+
+    if let Err(e) = spawn_result {
+        return OllamaEnsureResult {
+            installed: true,
+            was_running: false,
+            started: false,
+            running: false,
+            error: Some(format!("Failed to spawn 'ollama serve': {e}")),
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+    }
+
+    // Step 5: Wait for it to become reachable (up to ~10 seconds)
+    for _ in 0..20 {
+        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500));
+        if is_ollama_reachable(base_url) {
+            return OllamaEnsureResult {
+                installed: true,
+                was_running: false,
+                started: true,
+                running: true,
+                error: None,
+                install_hint: None,
+            };
+        }
+    }
+
+    OllamaEnsureResult {
+        installed: true,
+        was_running: false,
+        started: false,
+        running: false,
+        error: Some(
+            "Spawned 'ollama serve' but it did not become reachable within 10 seconds".to_string(),
+        ),
+        install_hint: None,
+    }
+}
+
+// ── Brief status (for cron status display) ──
+
+/// Lightweight status snapshot for display in `cron status`.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+pub struct OllamaStatusBrief {
+    pub installed: bool,
+    pub running: bool,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub binary_path: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub install_hint: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Quick, non-blocking Ollama status check for display purposes.
+pub fn ollama_status_brief(base_url: &str) -> OllamaStatusBrief {
+    let is_local = is_local_url(base_url);
+
+    // For remote URLs, only check reachability (binary check is irrelevant)
+    if !is_local {
+        let running = is_ollama_reachable(base_url);
+        return OllamaStatusBrief {
+            installed: true, // unknown for remote, but not actionable
+            running,
+            binary_path: None,
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+    }
+
+    let binary_path = find_ollama_binary();
+    let installed = binary_path.is_some();
+
+    if !installed {
+        return OllamaStatusBrief {
+            installed: false,
+            running: false,
+            binary_path: None,
+            install_hint: Some(install_instructions().to_string()),
+        };
+    }
+
+    let running = is_ollama_reachable(base_url);
+
+    OllamaStatusBrief {
+        installed: true,
+        running,
+        binary_path: binary_path.map(|p| p.display().to_string()),
+        install_hint: None,
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    // ── URL parsing ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_port_default_url() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_port("http://localhost:11434"), 11434);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_port_custom() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_port("http://192.168.1.5:9999"), 9999);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_port_trailing_slash() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_port("http://localhost:11434/"), 11434);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_port_with_path() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_port("http://localhost:8080/api/generate"), 8080);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_port_no_port() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_port("http://localhost"), 11434);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_port_https() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_port("https://ollama.internal:8080"), 8080);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_host_localhost() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_host("http://localhost:11434"), "localhost");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_host_ip() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_host("http://192.168.1.5:9999"), "192.168.1.5");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_host_remote() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_host("http://gpu-server:11434"), "gpu-server");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_host_no_port() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_host("http://localhost"), "localhost");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_host_https() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            extract_host("https://ollama.internal:8080"),
+            "ollama.internal"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn extract_host_no_scheme() {
+        assert_eq!(extract_host("localhost:11434"), "localhost");
+    }
+
+    // ── is_local_url ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_local_url_localhost() {
+        assert!(is_local_url("http://localhost:11434"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_local_url_loopback() {
+        assert!(is_local_url("http://127.0.0.1:11434"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_local_url_ipv6_loopback() {
+        assert!(is_local_url("http://[::1]:11434"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_local_url_remote() {
+        assert!(!is_local_url("http://gpu-server:11434"));
+        assert!(!is_local_url("http://192.168.1.5:11434"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn is_local_url_fqdn_not_local() {
+        assert!(!is_local_url("http://ollama.example.com:11434"));
+    }
+
+    // ── install_instructions ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn install_instructions_not_empty() {
+        assert!(!install_instructions().is_empty());
+        assert!(install_instructions().contains("ollama"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn install_instructions_contains_url() {
+        assert!(install_instructions().contains("ollama.ai"));
+    }
+
+    // ── is_ollama_reachable ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reachable_returns_false_for_closed_port() {
+        // Port 1 is almost never open and requires root to bind
+        assert!(!is_ollama_reachable("http://127.0.0.1:1"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reachable_returns_false_for_unresolvable_host() {
+        assert!(!is_ollama_reachable(
+            "http://this-host-does-not-exist-xyzzy:11434"
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // ── OllamaEnsureResult serialization ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_result_serializes_installed_running() {
+        let result = OllamaEnsureResult {
+            installed: true,
+            was_running: true,
+            started: false,
+            running: true,
+            error: None,
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+        let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::to_value(&result).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(json["installed"], true);
+        assert_eq!(json["was_running"], true);
+        assert_eq!(json["started"], false);
+        assert_eq!(json["running"], true);
+        // skip_serializing_if: None fields should be absent
+        assert!(json.get("error").is_none());
+        assert!(json.get("install_hint").is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_result_serializes_not_installed() {
+        let result = OllamaEnsureResult {
+            installed: false,
+            was_running: false,
+            started: false,
+            running: false,
+            error: Some("Ollama is not installed".to_string()),
+            install_hint: Some("Install Ollama: brew install ollama".to_string()),
+        };
+        let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::to_value(&result).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(json["installed"], false);
+        assert_eq!(json["running"], false);
+        assert_eq!(json["error"], "Ollama is not installed");
+        assert!(
+            json["install_hint"]
+                .as_str()
+                .unwrap()
+                .contains("brew install")
+        );
+    }
+
+    // ── OllamaStatusBrief serialization ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn status_brief_serializes_with_optional_fields() {
+        let brief = OllamaStatusBrief {
+            installed: true,
+            running: true,
+            binary_path: Some("/usr/local/bin/ollama".to_string()),
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+        let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::to_value(&brief).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(json["installed"], true);
+        assert_eq!(json["running"], true);
+        assert_eq!(json["binary_path"], "/usr/local/bin/ollama");
+        assert!(json.get("install_hint").is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn status_brief_serializes_not_installed() {
+        let brief = OllamaStatusBrief {
+            installed: false,
+            running: false,
+            binary_path: None,
+            install_hint: Some("Install Ollama".to_string()),
+        };
+        let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::to_value(&brief).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(json["installed"], false);
+        assert_eq!(json["running"], false);
+        assert!(json.get("binary_path").is_none());
+        assert_eq!(json["install_hint"], "Install Ollama");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn status_brief_clone() {
+        let original = OllamaStatusBrief {
+            installed: true,
+            running: false,
+            binary_path: Some("/opt/bin/ollama".to_string()),
+            install_hint: None,
+        };
+        let cloned = original.clone();
+        assert_eq!(original.installed, cloned.installed);
+        assert_eq!(original.running, cloned.running);
+        assert_eq!(original.binary_path, cloned.binary_path);
+        assert_eq!(original.install_hint, cloned.install_hint);
+    }
+
+    // ── ensure_ollama with remote URL ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_remote_unreachable_does_not_set_install_hint() {
+        // A remote URL that nothing listens on — should NOT suggest local install
+        let result = ensure_ollama("http://192.0.2.1:1"); // TEST-NET, will fail fast
+        assert!(!result.started);
+        assert!(!result.running);
+        assert!(
+            result.install_hint.is_none(),
+            "remote URLs should not suggest local install"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            result.error.as_deref().unwrap_or("").contains("remote"),
+            "error should mention 'remote': {:?}",
+            result.error,
+        );
+    }
+
+    // ── ensure_ollama with local URL (binary check) ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ensure_local_closed_port_not_already_running() {
+        // Local URL pointing at a port nothing listens on
+        let result = ensure_ollama("http://127.0.0.1:1");
+        // Should NOT report was_running since port 1 is closed
+        assert!(!result.was_running);
+        assert!(!result.running);
+        // If ollama binary is not installed, should get install hint
+        if !result.installed {
+            assert!(result.install_hint.is_some());
+            assert!(
+                result
+                    .error
+                    .as_deref()
+                    .unwrap_or("")
+                    .contains("not installed")
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}