diff --git a/backend/shonar/api/v1/recordings.py b/backend/shonar/api/v1/recordings.py
index 65cfaa0..73a745a 100644
--- a/backend/shonar/api/v1/recordings.py
+++ b/backend/shonar/api/v1/recordings.py
@@ -86,7 +86,13 @@ async def create_upload(body: UploadSessionCreate, user: CurrentUser, session: S
             session, user.id, body.declared_mime_type, body.declared_size_bytes,
             body.title, body.client_recording_id, body.transcription_model,
         )
+        # Commit BEFORE responding: FastAPI's get_session commits after the
+        # response is sent, and the desktop client GETs /uploads/{id} the
+        # instant it sees the 201 — an uncommitted row raced that follow-up
+        # into a 404 "Upload status failed" (seen live Sep 18).
+        await session.commit()
     except up.UploadError as e:
+        await session.rollback()
         raise HTTPException(e.status_code, e.message) from None
     return us