diff --git a/backend/services/discovery.py b/backend/services/discovery.py
index 36de4a2..bb78f91 100644
--- a/backend/services/discovery.py
+++ b/backend/services/discovery.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def _search_and_store(
 
     for query in queries:
         try:
-            results = ytdlp.search_youtube(query, max_results=40)
+            results = ytdlp.search_youtube(query, max_results=40, polite=True)
         except Exception:
             results = []
         for video in results:
diff --git a/backend/services/ytdlp.py b/backend/services/ytdlp.py
index 259eec3..1792f41 100644
--- a/backend/services/ytdlp.py
+++ b/backend/services/ytdlp.py
@@ -152,9 +152,10 @@ def _normalize_channel(info: dict) -> dict:
     }
 
 
-def search_youtube(query: str, max_results: int = 40) -> list[dict]:
+def search_youtube(query: str, max_results: int = 40, polite: bool = False) -> list[dict]:
     """Search YouTube via yt-dlp. Uses --flat-playlist for fast results."""
-    stdout, _, code = _meta_run([
+    runner = _meta_run if polite else _run
+    stdout, _, code = runner([
         "yt-dlp",
         f"ytsearch{max_results}:{query}",
         "--dump-json",