diff --git a/blueprints/rag/logic.py b/blueprints/rag/logic.py
index 665f97b..01e2f5b 100644
--- a/blueprints/rag/logic.py
+++ b/blueprints/rag/logic.py
@@ -202,9 +202,13 @@ def _sanitize_documents(documents: list[Document]) -> list[Document]:
     return [doc for doc in documents if doc.page_content]
 
 
-async def index_documents():
-    """Index Paperless-NGX documents into vector store."""
-    documents = await fetch_documents_from_paperless_ngx()
+async def index_documents(documents: list[Document] | None = None):
+    """Index Paperless-NGX documents into vector store.
+
+    Pass already-fetched `documents` to index them without fetching again.
+    """
+    if documents is None:
+        documents = await fetch_documents_from_paperless_ngx()
 
     splits = text_splitter.split_documents(documents)
     splits = _sanitize_documents(splits)
diff --git a/scripts/manage_vectorstore.py b/scripts/manage_vectorstore.py
index ad37ab3..1abc2ca 100644
--- a/scripts/manage_vectorstore.py
+++ b/scripts/manage_vectorstore.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import sys
 from blueprints.rag.logic import (
     delete_all_documents,
     delete_documents_by_metadata,
+    fetch_documents_from_paperless_ngx,
     get_vector_store_stats,
     index_documents,
     index_obsidian_documents,
@@ -33,11 +34,23 @@ async def index():
 
 
 async def reindex():
-    """Clear and reindex everything: Paperless documents and the Obsidian vault."""
+    """Clear and reindex everything: Paperless documents and the Obsidian vault.
+
+    Paperless is fetched before anything is deleted, so an unreachable or
+    empty Paperless leaves the existing index untouched.
+    """
+    print("Fetching documents from Paperless-NGX...")
+    documents = await fetch_documents_from_paperless_ngx()
+    if not documents:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            "Paperless returned no documents to index; leaving the index untouched"
+        )
+    print(f"Fetched {len(documents)} documents")
     print("Clearing existing documents...")
     delete_all_documents()
     print("Cleared")
-    await index()
+    await index_documents(documents)
+    print("Paperless indexing complete!")
     await reindex_obsidian(clear=False)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_manage_vectorstore.py b/tests/unit/test_manage_vectorstore.py
index cd9324b..9252aed 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_manage_vectorstore.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_manage_vectorstore.py
@@ -16,7 +16,14 @@ def calls(monkeypatch):
         lambda k, v: calls.append(f"delete {k}={v}"),
     )
     monkeypatch.setattr(
-        cli, "index_documents", AsyncMock(side_effect=lambda: calls.append("paperless"))
+        cli,
+        "fetch_documents_from_paperless_ngx",
+        AsyncMock(side_effect=lambda: calls.append("fetch") or ["doc"]),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        cli,
+        "index_documents",
+        AsyncMock(side_effect=lambda *docs: calls.append(f"paperless {list(docs)}")),
     )
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         cli,
@@ -31,7 +38,8 @@ def calls(monkeypatch):
     "command, expected",
     [
         # A full reindex must not drop Obsidian notes after wiping everything.
-        ("reindex", ["delete_all", "paperless", "obsidian"]),
+        # Fetch before deleting, then index the fetched documents (no refetch).
+        ("reindex", ["fetch", "delete_all", "paperless [['doc']]", "obsidian"]),
         ("reindex-obsidian", ["delete source=obsidian", "obsidian"]),
     ],
 )
@@ -39,3 +47,20 @@ def test_reindex_commands(calls, monkeypatch, command, expected):
     monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", ["manage_vectorstore", command])
     cli.main()
     assert calls == expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "failure",
+    [
+        AsyncMock(side_effect=ConnectionError("Name or service not known")),
+        AsyncMock(return_value=[]),
+    ],
+)
+def test_reindex_leaves_index_untouched_when_paperless_fails(
+    calls, monkeypatch, failure
+):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "fetch_documents_from_paperless_ngx", failure)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", ["manage_vectorstore", "reindex"])
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+        cli.main()
+    assert "delete_all" not in calls