diff --git a/mempalace/searcher.py b/mempalace/searcher.py
index 2722ed9..a38cad1 100644
--- a/mempalace/searcher.py
+++ b/mempalace/searcher.py
@@ -498,7 +498,16 @@ def search(query: str, palace_path: str, wing: str = None, room: str = None, n_r
     # collection.count(); both happen before the old query-only guard and can
     # hit the same native crash. Non-Chroma backends never use Chroma's HNSW
     # files or sqlite-specific fallback and proceed normally.
-    if resolve_backend_name(palace_path) == "chroma" and _hnsw_capacity_diverged(palace_path):
+    try:
+        backend_name = resolve_backend_name(palace_path)
+    except (BackendMismatchError, KeyError):
+        # Preserve _open_collection_or_explain's state-specific diagnostics
+        # for mixed artifacts and unknown backend selections. This probe is
+        # only an early Chroma safety fence; it must not become a second,
+        # less-helpful backend validation path.
+        backend_name = None
+
+    if backend_name == "chroma" and _hnsw_capacity_diverged(palace_path):
         return _print_search_results_bm25_only(query, palace_path, wing, room, n_results)
 
     col = _open_collection_or_explain(palace_path, opener=get_collection)
diff --git a/tests/test_searcher.py b/tests/test_searcher.py
index 9dba4e4..c2fe5b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_searcher.py
+++ b/tests/test_searcher.py
@@ -11,7 +11,14 @@ import pytest
 
 from _chroma_palace_helper import make_minimal_chroma_sqlite
 
-from mempalace.searcher import SearchError, build_where_filter, search, search_memories
+from mempalace.backends import BackendMismatchError
+from mempalace.searcher import (
+    SearchError,
+    build_where_filter,
+    get_collection,
+    search,
+    search_memories,
+)
 
 
 # ── build_where_filter (unit) ──────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -616,3 +623,22 @@ class TestSearchCLI:
         mock_probe.assert_not_called()
         mock_col.query.assert_called_once()
         assert "backend-native result" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "resolution_error",
+        [BackendMismatchError("mixed backend artifacts"), KeyError("unknown_backend")],
+    )
+    def test_search_delegates_backend_resolution_errors_to_open_diagnostic(
+        self, fake_palace_path, resolution_error
+    ):
+        """The early HNSW fence must not replace normal CLI diagnostics."""
+        with (
+            patch("mempalace.searcher.resolve_backend_name", side_effect=resolution_error),
+            patch("mempalace.searcher._hnsw_capacity_diverged") as mock_probe,
+            patch("mempalace.searcher._open_collection_or_explain", return_value=None) as mock_open,
+        ):
+            with pytest.raises(SearchError):
+                search("anything", fake_palace_path)
+
+        mock_probe.assert_not_called()
+        mock_open.assert_called_once_with(fake_palace_path, opener=get_collection)