diff --git a/app/services/sec_filings_service.py b/app/services/sec_filings_service.py
index 2d41737..3576c72 100644
--- a/app/services/sec_filings_service.py
+++ b/app/services/sec_filings_service.py
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # Maximum exhibit content size (5 MB)
 MAX_EXHIBIT_SIZE = 5 * 1024 * 1024
 
+# Limit concurrent background reindex tasks to prevent event-loop saturation
+# when bulk scans trigger hundreds of simultaneous SEC EDGAR fetches.
+_BACKGROUND_REINDEX_SEMAPHORE = asyncio.Semaphore(3)
+
 
 class SECFilingsService:
     SUPPORTED_FORM_TYPES: Set[str] = {
@@ -247,16 +251,17 @@ class SECFilingsService:
         self, ticker: str, form_types: Optional[Set[str]], lock: asyncio.Lock
     ) -> None:
         """Re-index a stale ticker in the background with its own DB session."""
-        async with lock:
-            try:
-                from app.core.database import AsyncSessionLocal
-                async with AsyncSessionLocal() as session:
-                    new_count = await self.index_filings(
-                        session, ticker, form_types=form_types, skip_cache=True
-                    )
-                    logger.info(f"Background reindex for {ticker}: {new_count} new filings")
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Background reindex failed for {ticker}: {e}")
+        async with _BACKGROUND_REINDEX_SEMAPHORE:
+            async with lock:
+                try:
+                    from app.core.database import AsyncSessionLocal
+                    async with AsyncSessionLocal() as session:
+                        new_count = await self.index_filings(
+                            session, ticker, form_types=form_types, skip_cache=True
+                        )
+                        logger.info(f"Background reindex for {ticker}: {new_count} new filings")
+                except Exception as e:
+                    logger.warning(f"Background reindex failed for {ticker}: {e}")
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
     # search_filings: query DB with filters