diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index cf9aa1b..7f57289 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ All notable changes to Palinode. Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepa
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Preserve the embedding-backend 503 response for `/triggers` and
+  `/check-triggers` instead of converting outages into generic 500 errors.
+
 ### Removed
 
 ### Security
diff --git a/palinode/api/_util.py b/palinode/api/_util.py
index 71251bc..67787d7 100644
--- a/palinode/api/_util.py
+++ b/palinode/api/_util.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 from fastapi import HTTPException
 
+from palinode.core import embedder
 from palinode.core.config import config
 from palinode.core.retrieval_log import RetrievalLogger
 
@@ -43,6 +44,18 @@ def _safe_500(e: Exception, context: str = "Internal error") -> HTTPException:
     return HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=context)
 
 
+def _embedding_unavailable_503(
+    error: embedder.EmbeddingUnavailable,
+    operation: str,
+) -> HTTPException:
+    """Preserve the typed outage message without logging a traceback."""
+    logger.warning(
+        "%s unavailable outcome=embedding_unavailable",
+        operation,
+    )
+    return HTTPException(status_code=503, detail=str(error))
+
+
 def _project_from_cwd(cwd: str | None) -> str | None:
     """Derive a project slug from a CWD path's basename.
 
diff --git a/palinode/api/routers/search.py b/palinode/api/routers/search.py
index 2aded25..fd72b26 100644
--- a/palinode/api/routers/search.py
+++ b/palinode/api/routers/search.py
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@
 from palinode.core.config import config
 from palinode.core.parity import CATEGORIES, MEMORY_TYPES
 from palinode.core.path_guard import to_rel_path
-from palinode.api._util import _retrieval_logger, _safe_500
+from palinode.api._util import (
+    _embedding_unavailable_503,
+    _retrieval_logger,
+    _safe_500,
+)
 from palinode.api.rate_limit import _RATE_LIMIT_SEARCH, _check_rate_limit
 from palinode.api.search_helpers import (
     _compute_effective_date_after,
@@ -32,18 +36,6 @@
 _VISIBILITY_OVERFETCH = 5
 
 
-def _embedding_unavailable_503(
-    error: embedder.EmbeddingUnavailable,
-    operation: str,
-) -> HTTPException:
-    """Preserve the typed outage message without logging a traceback."""
-    logger.warning(
-        "%s unavailable op=search outcome=embedding_unavailable",
-        operation,
-    )
-    return HTTPException(status_code=503, detail=str(error))
-
-
 def _resolve_scope_chain(
     context: list[str] | None = None,
     session_id: str | None = None,
diff --git a/palinode/api/routers/triggers.py b/palinode/api/routers/triggers.py
index 84d1253..f939f1a 100644
--- a/palinode/api/routers/triggers.py
+++ b/palinode/api/routers/triggers.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from fastapi import APIRouter
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
-from palinode.api._util import _safe_500
+from palinode.api._util import _embedding_unavailable_503, _safe_500
 from palinode.core import embedder, store
 
 router = APIRouter()
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ def create_trigger_api(req: TriggerRequest) -> dict[str, Any]:
             cooldown_hours=req.cooldown_hours or 24
         )
         return {"id": trigger_id, "status": "created"}
+    except embedder.EmbeddingUnavailable as e:
+        raise _embedding_unavailable_503(e, "Trigger creation") from None
     except Exception as e:
         raise _safe_500(e, "Trigger creation failed")
 
@@ -72,5 +74,7 @@ def check_triggers_api(req: CheckTriggersRequest) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
             cooldown_bypass=req.cooldown_bypass or False
         )
         return results
+    except embedder.EmbeddingUnavailable as e:
+        raise _embedding_unavailable_503(e, "Trigger check") from None
     except Exception as e:
         raise _safe_500(e, "Trigger check failed")
diff --git a/tests/test_search_embedder_outage.py b/tests/test_search_embedder_outage.py
index 64b7571..18eb69b 100644
--- a/tests/test_search_embedder_outage.py
+++ b/tests/test_search_embedder_outage.py
@@ -110,6 +110,33 @@ def test_other_embedding_search_operations_preserve_typed_503(
     assert "palinode doctor" in res.json()["detail"]
 
 
+def test_create_trigger_preserves_typed_embedding_503(client):
+    with patch("palinode.core.embedder.embed", side_effect=_boom):
+        res = client.post(
+            "/triggers",
+            json={
+                "description": "deploy the memory service",
+                "memory_file": "projects/memory.md",
+            },
+        )
+
+    assert res.status_code == 503
+    assert "Embedding backend unavailable" in res.json()["detail"]
+    assert "palinode doctor" in res.json()["detail"]
+
+
+def test_check_triggers_preserves_typed_embedding_503(client):
+    with patch("palinode.core.embedder.embed", side_effect=_boom):
+        res = client.post(
+            "/check-triggers",
+            json={"query": "what should I remember about deployment?"},
+        )
+
+    assert res.status_code == 503
+    assert "Embedding backend unavailable" in res.json()["detail"]
+    assert "palinode doctor" in res.json()["detail"]
+
+
 def test_save_keeps_200_and_index_error_with_same_dead_embedder(client, dead_embedder):
     res = client.post(
         "/save",