diff --git a/chat/services/embedding_worker.py b/chat/services/embedding_worker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..80f87d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chat/services/embedding_worker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+"""Embedding worker (T97, Phase 4).
+
+Drains a queue of embedding jobs. Each job carries a memory id and the
+narrative text to embed; the worker calls
+:func:`chat.services.embeddings.generate_embedding` and emits an
+``embedding_indexed`` event so the projector lands the vector in the
+``embeddings`` table.
+
+Mirrors the :class:`chat.services.background.BackgroundWorker` pattern:
+single asyncio task, sentinel-based shutdown, exceptions are caught and
+logged so a flaky embedding call doesn't take down the worker. Each job
+opens its own SQLite connection via ``conn_factory`` — the request path
+and the worker do not share connections.
+
+Featherless concurrency (the 2-conn cap) is respected by virtue of the
+single-task design: jobs run strictly serially. Phase 4's pseudo-embedding
+path is local and synchronous so this is largely moot, but the pattern
+is in place for the Phase 4.5+ real-embedding swap.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import asyncio
+import logging
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from sqlite3 import Connection
+from typing import Callable
+
+from chat.eventlog.log import append_and_apply
+from chat.services.embeddings import (
+    DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_DIM,
+    DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_MODEL,
+    FALLBACK_EMBEDDING_MODEL,
+    generate_embedding,
+)
+
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class EmbeddingJob:
+    """One unit of work for the embedding worker.
+
+    ``memory_id`` is the row to attach the vector to; ``text`` is the
+    narrative text to embed (typically ``memories.pov_summary``).
+    """
+
+    memory_id: int
+    text: str
+
+
+class EmbeddingWorker:
+    """asyncio.Queue-backed single-worker task for embedding generation.
+
+    Started on app startup; ``stop()`` enqueues a sentinel and awaits
+    the task so any in-flight job has a chance to finish. Pending jobs
+    after the sentinel are dropped on shutdown.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        *,
+        conn_factory: Callable[[], Connection],
+        client,  # LLMClient | None — unused on the pseudo path.
+        model: str = DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_MODEL,
+        dim: int = DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_DIM,
+        enabled: bool = True,
+    ) -> None:
+        self._queue: asyncio.Queue[EmbeddingJob | None] = asyncio.Queue()
+        self._conn_factory = conn_factory
+        self._client = client
+        self._model = model
+        self._dim = dim
+        self._task: asyncio.Task | None = None
+        self.enabled = enabled
+
+    def enqueue(self, job: EmbeddingJob) -> None:
+        if not self.enabled:
+            return
+        self._queue.put_nowait(job)
+
+    async def start(self) -> None:
+        if self._task is None:
+            self._task = asyncio.create_task(self._run())
+
+    async def stop(self) -> None:
+        if self._task is None:
+            return
+        self._queue.put_nowait(None)  # sentinel
+        await self._task
+        self._task = None
+
+    async def _run(self) -> None:
+        while True:
+            job = await self._queue.get()
+            if job is None:
+                return
+            try:
+                await self._process(job)
+            except Exception as exc:  # noqa: BLE001 — worker must not die
+                log.warning(
+                    "embedding worker failed for memory_id=%s: %s",
+                    job.memory_id,
+                    exc,
+                    exc_info=True,
+                )
+
+    async def _process(self, job: EmbeddingJob) -> None:
+        result = await generate_embedding(
+            self._client,
+            text=job.text,
+            model=self._model,
+            dim=self._dim,
+        )
+        if result.model == FALLBACK_EMBEDDING_MODEL:
+            # Don't index a fallback (zero) vector — the backfill script
+            # can retry later once a real embedding is available.
+            log.debug(
+                "embedding worker skipping fallback result for memory_id=%s",
+                job.memory_id,
+            )
+            return
+        with self._conn_factory() as conn:
+            append_and_apply(
+                conn,
+                kind="embedding_indexed",
+                payload={
+                    "memory_id": job.memory_id,
+                    "model": result.model,
+                    "dim": result.dim,
+                    "vector": result.vector,
+                },
+            )
+
+
+__all__ = ["EmbeddingJob", "EmbeddingWorker"]
diff --git a/tests/test_embedding_worker.py b/tests/test_embedding_worker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7d9416
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_embedding_worker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+"""Embedding worker (T97, Phase 4).
+
+The worker drains a queue of EmbeddingJobs and emits ``embedding_indexed``
+events. Mirrors test_significance.py's BackgroundWorker tests in shape:
+seed a memory, enqueue jobs, call ``stop()`` to drain via sentinel, then
+assert on the projected ``embeddings`` table and the underlying event_log.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from chat.db.connection import open_db
+from chat.db.migrate import apply_migrations
+from chat.eventlog.log import append_event
+from chat.eventlog.projector import project
+from chat.services.embedding_worker import EmbeddingJob, EmbeddingWorker
+from chat.services.embeddings import (
+    DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_MODEL,
+    EmbeddingResult,
+    FALLBACK_EMBEDDING_MODEL,
+)
+
+# Trigger handler registration for projection.
+import chat.state.embeddings  # noqa: F401
+import chat.state.entities  # noqa: F401
+import chat.state.memory  # noqa: F401
+import chat.state.world  # noqa: F401
+
+
+def _seed_memories(db_path: Path, count: int) -> list[int]:
+    """Seed ``count`` memory rows for ``bot_a`` and return their ids."""
+    with open_db(db_path) as conn:
+        append_event(
+            conn,
+            kind="bot_authored",
+            payload={
+                "id": "bot_a",
+                "name": "BotA",
+                "persona": "...",
+                "voice_samples": [],
+                "traits": [],
+                "backstory": "",
+                "initial_relationship_to_you": "",
+                "kickoff_prose": "",
+            },
+        )
+        append_event(
+            conn,
+            kind="chat_created",
+            payload={
+                "id": "chat_bot_a",
+                "host_bot_id": "bot_a",
+                "initial_time": "2026-04-26T20:00:00+00:00",
+                "narrative_anchor": "Day 1",
+                "weather": "",
+            },
+        )
+        for i in range(count):
+            append_event(
+                conn,
+                kind="memory_written",
+                payload={
+                    "owner_id": "bot_a",
+                    "chat_id": "chat_bot_a",
+                    "pov_summary": f"memory text {i}",
+                    "witness_you": 1,
+                    "witness_host": 1,
+                    "witness_guest": 0,
+                    "source": "direct",
+                    "reliability": 1.0,
+                    "significance": 1,
+                    "pinned": 0,
+                    "auto_pinned": 0,
+                },
+            )
+        project(conn)
+        return [
+            r[0]
+            for r in conn.execute(
+                "SELECT id FROM memories WHERE owner_id = 'bot_a' ORDER BY id"
+            ).fetchall()
+        ]
+
+
+async def test_worker_drains_jobs_and_emits_indexed_events(tmp_path):
+    """Three jobs in -> three ``embedding_indexed`` events out, all
+    projected into the ``embeddings`` table."""
+    db = tmp_path / "t.db"
+    apply_migrations(db)
+    memory_ids = _seed_memories(db, count=3)
+
+    worker = EmbeddingWorker(
+        conn_factory=lambda: open_db(db),
+        client=None,  # pseudo path — no client needed
+    )
+    await worker.start()
+    for mid in memory_ids:
+        worker.enqueue(EmbeddingJob(memory_id=mid, text=f"text-{mid}"))
+    await worker.stop()
+
+    with open_db(db) as conn:
+        # Three embedding_indexed events landed.
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM event_log WHERE kind = 'embedding_indexed'"
+        )
+        assert cur.fetchone()[0] == 3
+        # Three rows in the embeddings table — one per memory.
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT memory_id, model, dim FROM embeddings ORDER BY memory_id"
+        )
+        rows = cur.fetchall()
+        assert len(rows) == 3
+        for (mid, model, dim), expected_mid in zip(rows, memory_ids):
+            assert mid == expected_mid
+            assert model == DEFAULT_EMBEDDING_MODEL
+            assert dim > 0
+
+
+async def test_worker_skips_fallback_results(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """A fallback EmbeddingResult must NOT produce an embedding_indexed
+    event — backfill can retry later when a real embedding is available."""
+    db = tmp_path / "t.db"
+    apply_migrations(db)
+    memory_ids = _seed_memories(db, count=1)
+
+    async def _fake_generate(client, *, text, model, dim, timeout_s=30.0):
+        return EmbeddingResult(
+            vector=[0.0] * dim, model=FALLBACK_EMBEDDING_MODEL, dim=dim
+        )
+
+    # Patch the symbol the worker resolved at import time.
+    import chat.services.embedding_worker as worker_mod
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(worker_mod, "generate_embedding", _fake_generate)
+
+    worker = EmbeddingWorker(
+        conn_factory=lambda: open_db(db),
+        client=None,
+    )
+    await worker.start()
+    worker.enqueue(EmbeddingJob(memory_id=memory_ids[0], text="anything"))
+    await worker.stop()
+
+    with open_db(db) as conn:
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM event_log WHERE kind = 'embedding_indexed'"
+        )
+        assert cur.fetchone()[0] == 0
+        cur = conn.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM embeddings")
+        assert cur.fetchone()[0] == 0
+
+
+async def test_worker_handles_concurrent_jobs_serially(tmp_path):
+    """Five jobs queued back-to-back must process in FIFO order — the
+    single-task design respects the Featherless 2-conn cap (and keeps
+    event_log ordering deterministic)."""
+    db = tmp_path / "t.db"
+    apply_migrations(db)
+    memory_ids = _seed_memories(db, count=5)
+
+    worker = EmbeddingWorker(
+        conn_factory=lambda: open_db(db),
+        client=None,
+    )
+    await worker.start()
+    # Enqueue all five before yielding to the loop — exercises the queue
+    # rather than a one-at-a-time drain.
+    for mid in memory_ids:
+        worker.enqueue(EmbeddingJob(memory_id=mid, text=f"text-{mid}"))
+    await worker.stop()
+
+    with open_db(db) as conn:
+        # Events landed in enqueue order (FIFO).
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT json_extract(payload_json, '$.memory_id') "
+            "FROM event_log WHERE kind = 'embedding_indexed' "
+            "ORDER BY id"
+        )
+        seen = [r[0] for r in cur.fetchall()]
+        assert seen == memory_ids
+
+        # All five embeddings projected.
+        cur = conn.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM embeddings")
+        assert cur.fetchone()[0] == 5