diff --git a/src/vouch/health.py b/src/vouch/health.py
index ac3fe510..9698dc9d 100644
--- a/src/vouch/health.py
+++ b/src/vouch/health.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ def rebuild_index(store: KBStore) -> dict:
 
 def _rebuild_embeddings(store: KBStore) -> None:
     try:
-        from .embeddings import get_embedder
+        from .embeddings import content_hash, get_embedder
         embedder = get_embedder()
     except Exception:
         return
@@ -201,9 +201,20 @@ def _rebuild_embeddings(store: KBStore) -> None:
         for i in range(0, len(texts), batch_size):
             batch = texts[i:i + batch_size]
             vecs = embedder.encode_batch([t[2] for t in batch])
-            for (kind, eid, _), row in zip(batch, vecs, strict=True):
-                index_db.index_embedding(conn, kind=kind, id=eid,
-                                         vec=row.tolist())
+            for (kind, eid, text), row in zip(batch, vecs, strict=True):
+                # Write to `embedding_index` — the table `search_embedding()`
+                # reads and `reset()` (called at the top of rebuild) clears.
+                # `index_embedding()` targeted the legacy `embeddings` table,
+                # which no reader queries, so every rebuild/reindex silently
+                # left semantic search empty until each artifact was next
+                # re-written. Mirror the live `KBStore._embed_and_store`
+                # metadata so the per-content/model skip-check stays consistent.
+                index_db.put_embedding(
+                    conn, kind=kind, id=eid, vec=row.tolist(),
+                    content_hash=content_hash(text),
+                    model=embedder.name, model_version=embedder.version,
+                    dim=embedder.dim,
+                )
 
 
 # --- helpers used by `vouch discover` (CLI) -------------------------------
diff --git a/tests/embeddings/test_search.py b/tests/embeddings/test_search.py
index 108e46e1..ae7b0e21 100644
--- a/tests/embeddings/test_search.py
+++ b/tests/embeddings/test_search.py
@@ -49,6 +49,28 @@ def test_put_page_writes_embedding(store: KBStore) -> None:
     assert rec[0].shape == (8,)
 
 
+def test_rebuild_index_repopulates_semantic_index(store: KBStore) -> None:
+    # rebuild_index resets embedding_index (the table search reads) and then
+    # re-embeds. The re-embedding must land in embedding_index, not the legacy
+    # `embeddings` table — otherwise semantic search silently returns nothing
+    # after every `vouch index` / `reindex` / import-apply.
+    from vouch import health
+
+    src = store.put_source(b"e")
+    store.put_claim(Claim(id="c1", text="alpha beta gamma", evidence=[src.id]))
+    store.put_page(Page(id="p1", title="Title", body="page body"))
+    store.put_entity(Entity(id="e1", name="JWT", type=EntityType.CONCEPT))
+
+    health.rebuild_index(store)
+
+    # Each artifact's embedding must be readable from embedding_index after the
+    # rebuild (these are None before the fix, because the rebuild wrote them to
+    # the dead `embeddings` table that no reader queries).
+    assert index_db.get_embedding(store.kb_dir, kind="claim", id="c1") is not None
+    assert index_db.get_embedding(store.kb_dir, kind="page", id="p1") is not None
+    assert index_db.get_embedding(store.kb_dir, kind="entity", id="e1") is not None
+
+
 def test_put_source_writes_embedding(store: KBStore) -> None:
     src = store.put_source(b"content bytes here", title="src1")
     rec = index_db.get_embedding(store.kb_dir, kind="source", id=src.id)