diff --git a/backend/tests/unit/utils/test_lsp_session_reader.py b/backend/tests/unit/utils/test_lsp_session_reader.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a523a5b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/unit/utils/test_lsp_session_reader.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Regression tests for the persistent LSP session's pipe reader."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from backend.utils.http.stdio_json_rpc import encode_json_rpc_message
+from backend.utils.lsp.lsp_project_routing import LspFileContext
+from backend.utils.lsp.lsp_session import LspSession
+
+
+def test_lsp_session_reader_delivers_short_frame_without_waiting_for_eof(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    response = encode_json_rpc_message(
+        {
+            'jsonrpc': '2.0',
+            'id': 1,
+            'result': {'capabilities': {'referencesProvider': True}},
+        }
+    )
+    assert len(response) < 4096
+    ctx = LspFileContext(
+        server_name='fake-short-response',
+        command=(
+            sys.executable,
+            '-c',
+            (
+                'import sys, time; '
+                f'sys.stdout.buffer.write({response!r}); '
+                'sys.stdout.buffer.flush(); '
+                'time.sleep(5)'
+            ),
+        ),
+        language_id='python',
+        workspace_root=tmp_path,
+    )
+    session = LspSession(ctx)
+
+    try:
+        assert session.ensure_initialized(timeout=1.0) is True
+    finally:
+        session.close()
diff --git a/backend/utils/lsp/lsp_session.py b/backend/utils/lsp/lsp_session.py
index ec7f66cdb..25c0b8602 100644
--- a/backend/utils/lsp/lsp_session.py
+++ b/backend/utils/lsp/lsp_session.py
@@ -173,8 +173,16 @@ def _read_stdout(self) -> None:
         if proc is None or proc.stdout is None:
             return
         try:
+            # Popen creates a BufferedReader by default.  Keep a read() fallback
+            # for file-like test doubles and unusual Popen configurations.
+            read_available = getattr(proc.stdout, 'read1', proc.stdout.read)
             while proc.poll() is None:
-                chunk = proc.stdout.read(4096)
+                # BufferedReader.read(size) tries to fill the whole requested
+                # buffer.  Language servers are long-lived, so a response shorter
+                # than 4096 bytes neither fills the buffer nor reaches EOF and the
+                # reader can block forever with a complete JSON-RPC frame waiting
+                # in the pipe.  read1() returns after one underlying pipe read.
+                chunk = read_available(4096)
                 if not chunk:
                     break
                 with self._lock: