diff --git a/backend/app/celery_app.py b/backend/app/celery_app.py
index 74e2403..f42db3b 100644
--- a/backend/app/celery_app.py
+++ b/backend/app/celery_app.py
@@ -107,6 +107,15 @@ def make_celery() -> Celery:
                 "task": "backend.app.tasks.ml.scheduled_train_heads",
                 "schedule": 86400.0,  # passive cadence; manual retrain stays available
             },
+            "refresh-character-prototypes": {
+                "task": "backend.app.tasks.ml.refresh_character_prototypes",
+                "schedule": 900.0,  # ~15 min; cheap global-gate no-op when idle (#1317)
+            },
+            "reconcile-character-prototypes-nightly": {
+                "task": "backend.app.tasks.ml.refresh_character_prototypes",
+                "schedule": 86400.0,  # nightly FULL reconcile (belt-and-suspenders)
+                "args": (True,),      # full=True
+            },
             "apply-head-tags-daily": {
                 "task": "backend.app.tasks.ml.scheduled_apply_head_tags",
                 "schedule": 86400.0,  # no-op unless head_auto_apply_enabled
diff --git a/backend/app/tasks/ml.py b/backend/app/tasks/ml.py
index b1650e2..bfb8d0c 100644
--- a/backend/app/tasks/ml.py
+++ b/backend/app/tasks/ml.py
@@ -328,6 +328,11 @@ def train_heads(self, run_id: int) -> str:
         run.status = "ready"
         run.finished_at = datetime.now(UTC)
         session.commit()
+        # A retrain folds the day's accepts/rejects into the heads; refresh the
+        # CCIP character prototypes on the SAME trigger (#1317) so the Retrain
+        # button + nightly run keep character matching current too. Cheap no-op
+        # when references didn't change.
+        refresh_character_prototypes.delay()
         return "ready"
 
 
@@ -361,6 +366,31 @@ def scheduled_train_heads() -> str:
     return "dispatched"
 
 
+@celery.task(
+    name="backend.app.tasks.ml.refresh_character_prototypes",
+    # Global-gate no-op when idle; a rebuild touches only changed characters. The
+    # initial (cold) build loads the whole reference set once, in the BACKGROUND
+    # — never on a /suggestions request.
+    soft_time_limit=1800, time_limit=2100,
+)
+def refresh_character_prototypes(full: bool = False) -> str:
+    """Incrementally refresh the CCIP character-prototype store (#1317, m138):
+    cheap global-gate skip when nothing changed, else rebuild only the characters
+    whose references moved. Triggered by a ~15-min beat, after every head retrain
+    (train_heads), and nightly with full=True. Returns a short status."""
+    from ..services.ml.character_prototypes import (
+        refresh_character_prototypes as _refresh,
+    )
+
+    SessionLocal = _sync_session_factory()
+    with SessionLocal() as session:
+        result = _refresh(session, full=full)
+    return (
+        "skipped" if result["skipped"]
+        else f"rebuilt={result['rebuilt']} removed={result['removed']}"
+    )
+
+
 @celery.task(
     name="backend.app.tasks.ml.apply_head_tags",
     bind=True,