diff --git a/internal/virtual/engine.go b/internal/virtual/engine.go
index 15a973a..a48d388 100644
--- a/internal/virtual/engine.go
+++ b/internal/virtual/engine.go
@@ -548,8 +548,8 @@ func (e *Engine) fetchAlpineMember(ctx context.Context, name, dir string) (*Alpi
 // the background, one refresh per member at a time; the next merge picks it up.
 func staleMember[T any](ctx context.Context, e *Engine, key, name string, fetch func(context.Context) (*T, error)) (*T, error) {
 	sk := key + "\x00" + name
-	remote, err := e.getRemote(ctx, name)
-	if err != nil || !remote.ServeStale {
+	// A failed lookup keeps the copy: a transient DB error must not force a blocking fetch.
+	if remote, err := e.getRemote(ctx, name); err == nil && !remote.ServeStale {
 		e.mu.Lock()
 		delete(e.stale, sk)
 		e.mu.Unlock()
diff --git a/internal/virtual/engine_stale_test.go b/internal/virtual/engine_stale_test.go
index c7d0e16..cadb3f1 100644
--- a/internal/virtual/engine_stale_test.go
+++ b/internal/virtual/engine_stale_test.go
@@ -328,3 +328,18 @@ func TestMergePrunesExpiredCopiesOfOtherMembers(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("any merge should prune expired copies of removed members")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestServeStaleLookupErrorKeepsCopy(t *testing.T) {
+	e, _ := staleEngine(true, func() *RPMMember { return rpmPkgMember("a", "1") })
+	v1 := fetchRepomd(t, e)
+	e.getRemote = func(context.Context, string) (*models.Remote, error) { return nil, errors.New("db down") }
+	if got := fetchRepomd(t, e); got != v1 {
+		t.Fatal("a failed remote lookup should keep serving the previous copy")
+	}
+	waitRefresh(e, rpmStaleKey)
+	e.mu.Lock()
+	defer e.mu.Unlock()
+	if e.stale[rpmStaleKey] == nil || e.stale[rpmStaleKey].m == nil {
+		t.Fatal("a failed remote lookup must not drop the copy")
+	}
+}