diff --git a/back/internal/search/demo.go b/back/internal/search/demo.go
index 65cbde1..3206eb1 100644
--- a/back/internal/search/demo.go
+++ b/back/internal/search/demo.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func (m *Manager) InjectDemoSearches() {
 		InputType: tools.InputTypeEmail,
 		Profile:   "default",
 		StartedAt: now.Add(-2 * time.Hour),
+		pinned:    true,
 		PlannedTools: []ToolStatus{
 			{Name: "user-scanner", ResultCount: ptr(10)},
 			{Name: "github-recon", ResultCount: ptr(3)},
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ func (m *Manager) InjectDemoSearches() {
 		InputType: tools.InputTypeUsername,
 		Profile:   "default",
 		StartedAt: now.Add(-30 * time.Minute),
+		pinned:    true,
 		PlannedTools: []ToolStatus{
 			{Name: "user-scanner", ResultCount: ptr(10)},
 			{Name: "github-recon", ResultCount: ptr(0)},
diff --git a/back/internal/search/manager.go b/back/internal/search/manager.go
index d39ded5..361fde7 100644
--- a/back/internal/search/manager.go
+++ b/back/internal/search/manager.go
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ func (m *Manager) purgeExpired() {
 	m.mu.Lock()
 	defer m.mu.Unlock()
 	for id, s := range m.searches {
+		if s.pinned {
+			continue // demo/pinned searches are never purged
+		}
 		ft := s.FinishedAt()
 		if ft.IsZero() {
 			continue // still running
diff --git a/back/internal/search/search.go b/back/internal/search/search.go
index 67679c9..d21c06c 100644
--- a/back/internal/search/search.go
+++ b/back/internal/search/search.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type Search struct {
 	PlannedTools []ToolStatus
 
 	cancelFn context.CancelFunc
+	pinned   bool // if true, never purged by the cleanup loop
 
 	mu         sync.RWMutex
 	events     []tools.Event