diff --git a/locales/en.json b/locales/en.json
index baae5c95..998622fb 100644
--- a/locales/en.json
+++ b/locales/en.json
@@ -1416,6 +1416,8 @@
       "missingMessage": "This folder no longer exists on disk. Refresh the sidebar and try again.",
       "symlinkTitle": "Folder is a symbolic link",
       "symlinkMessage": "Every copy of this folder is a symbolic link; remove the link or its target outside LoRA Manager.",
+      "protectedTitle": "Folder is protected",
+      "protectedMessage": "This folder holds the recipe library and cannot be deleted from LoRA Manager.",
       "busyTitle": "A deletion is still pending",
       "checking": "Checking the folder contents...",
       "confirm": "Delete folder",
@@ -1458,6 +1460,7 @@
       "busyStatus": "a deletion is still pending",
       "missingStatus": "no longer exists on disk",
       "symlinkStatus": "symbolic link — cannot be deleted here",
+      "protectedStatus": "holds the recipe library — cannot be deleted here",
       "unknownStatus": "could not be checked",
       "deletedStatus": "deleted"
     },
diff --git a/py/services/model_file_service.py b/py/services/model_file_service.py
index 56190581..d25edbb6 100644
--- a/py/services/model_file_service.py
+++ b/py/services/model_file_service.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 
 from ..utils.utils import calculate_relative_path_for_model, remove_empty_dirs
 from ..utils.constants import AUTO_ORGANIZE_BATCH_SIZE, MODEL_FILE_EXTENSIONS
+from ..utils.recipes_paths import path_is_or_contains_recipes_dir
 from ..utils.sidecar_paths import is_centralized, resolve_centralized_dir_for_dir
 from ..services.settings_manager import get_settings_manager
 from ..services.model_lifecycle_service import _require_path_in_library_roots
@@ -697,6 +698,19 @@ class ModelMoveService:
                     "error": "The library root itself cannot be deleted",
                 }
 
+            if path_is_or_contains_recipes_dir(absolute_path):
+                # The recipes dir holds no model weight files, so the
+                # model_count check below cannot protect it — but removing it
+                # wipes the user's recipe library.
+                return {
+                    "success": False,
+                    "code": "protected",
+                    "error": (
+                        "This folder holds the recipe library and cannot be "
+                        "deleted from here"
+                    ),
+                }
+
             manifest = self._collect_folder_manifest(absolute_path)
 
             if manifest["pending_delete_job"]:
@@ -948,6 +962,18 @@ class ModelMoveService:
                     "error": "The library root itself cannot be renamed",
                 }
 
+            if path_is_or_contains_recipes_dir(absolute_path):
+                # Renaming the recipes dir (or an ancestor) strands the recipe
+                # library: the scanner keeps looking at the configured path.
+                return {
+                    "success": False,
+                    "code": "protected",
+                    "error": (
+                        "This folder holds the recipe library and cannot be "
+                        "renamed from here"
+                    ),
+                }
+
             previous_relative = self._calculate_relative_folder(absolute_path)
             target = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(absolute_path), new_name)
 
diff --git a/py/services/model_scanner.py b/py/services/model_scanner.py
index 623910a2..d70cd73b 100644
--- a/py/services/model_scanner.py
+++ b/py/services/model_scanner.py
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ from ..utils.sidecar_paths import (
     resolve_centralized_dir_for_dir,
 )
 from ..utils.civitai_utils import resolve_license_info
+from ..utils.recipes_paths import (
+    get_effective_recipes_dir,
+    normalized_recipes_dir_key,
+)
 from .model_cache import ModelCache
 from .model_hash_index import ModelHashIndex
 from .model_lifecycle_service import delete_model_artifacts, _require_path_in_library_roots
@@ -72,6 +76,11 @@ def _is_hidden_relative_path(rel_path: str) -> bool:
     return any(part.startswith(".") for part in rel_path.replace(os.sep, "/").split("/"))
 
 
+def _dir_entry_key(parent: str, name: str) -> str:
+    """normcase+abspath key for a directory entry, for reserved-dir checks."""
+    return os.path.normcase(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(parent, name)))
+
+
 def _file_name_stem(file_path: str) -> str:
     """Return the extension-free file name of a normalized model path.
 
@@ -577,6 +586,9 @@ def _walk_root_for_reconcile(
     stale_seen: Set[str] = set()
     files_since_report = 0
     walk_start = walk_path or root_path
+    # The recipe library sits inside a lora root by default; it is a reserved
+    # directory, never a model folder, so the walk must not descend into it.
+    recipes_dir_key = normalized_recipes_dir_key()
 
     def _on_walk_error(error: OSError) -> None:
         """Record a directory the walk could not enter (offline/denied)."""
@@ -599,7 +611,11 @@ def _walk_root_for_reconcile(
     for root, dirnames, files in os.walk(
         walk_start, followlinks=True, onerror=_on_walk_error
     ):
-        dirnames[:] = [d for d in dirnames if not _is_excluded_dir(d)]
+        dirnames[:] = [
+            d
+            for d in dirnames
+            if not _is_excluded_dir(d) and _dir_entry_key(root, d) != recipes_dir_key
+        ]
 
         real_root = os.path.realpath(root)
         if not dir_claims.claim(real_root):
@@ -1451,17 +1467,20 @@ class ModelScanner:
         await self._sync_download_history(snapshot.raw_data, source='scan')
     def _count_model_files(self) -> int:
         """Count all model files with supported extensions in all roots
-        
+
         Returns:
             int: Total number of model files found
         """
         total_files = 0
         visited_real_paths = set()
-        
+        # The recipe library holds no model files; skip it so the progress
+        # estimate matches what the scan itself will walk.
+        recipes_dir_key = normalized_recipes_dir_key()
+
         for root_path in self.get_model_roots():
             if not os.path.exists(root_path):
                 continue
-                
+
             def count_recursive(path):
                 nonlocal total_files
                 try:
@@ -1469,7 +1488,7 @@ class ModelScanner:
                     if real_path in visited_real_paths:
                         return
                     visited_real_paths.add(real_path)
-                    
+
                     with os.scandir(path) as it:
                         for entry in it:
                             try:
@@ -1480,6 +1499,8 @@ class ModelScanner:
                                 elif entry.is_dir(follow_symlinks=True):
                                     if _is_excluded_dir(entry.name):
                                         continue
+                                    if _dir_entry_key(path, entry.name) == recipes_dir_key:
+                                        continue
                                     count_recursive(entry.path)
                             except Exception as e:
                                 logger.error(f"Error counting files in entry {entry.path}: {e}")
@@ -2407,8 +2428,49 @@ class ModelScanner:
         else:
             self._schedule_all_folders_backfill()
 
+        reserved = self._recipes_folder_rel_paths()
+        if reserved:
+            folders = {
+                folder
+                for folder in folders
+                if not any(
+                    folder.casefold() == rel or folder.casefold().startswith(rel + "/")
+                    for rel in reserved
+                )
+            }
+
         return sorted(folders, key=lambda x: x.lower())
 
+    def _recipes_folder_rel_paths(self) -> Set[str]:
+        """Casefolded library-relative names of the recipes dir, per root.
+
+        The recipe library sits inside a lora root by default; it is a
+        reserved directory, never a model folder. The scan walks no longer
+        record it, but snapshots persisted before that exclusion still carry
+        it, so readers filter it out here.
+        """
+        try:
+            recipes_dir = get_effective_recipes_dir()
+        except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
+            return set()
+        if not recipes_dir:
+            return set()
+
+        recipes_abs = os.path.abspath(recipes_dir)
+        recipes_key = os.path.normcase(recipes_abs)
+        reserved: Set[str] = set()
+        for root in self.get_model_roots():
+            root_abs = os.path.abspath(root)
+            root_key = os.path.normcase(root_abs)
+            if recipes_key != root_key and not recipes_key.startswith(
+                root_key + os.sep
+            ):
+                continue
+            rel = os.path.relpath(recipes_abs, root_abs).replace(os.sep, "/")
+            if rel and rel != ".":
+                reserved.add(rel.casefold())
+        return reserved
+
     async def add_known_folder(self, folder: str) -> None:
         """Record a folder (and its parents) in the known folder list.
 
@@ -2894,17 +2956,25 @@ class ModelScanner:
         """Enumerate every directory under the model roots, live from disk.
 
         Runs in a worker thread. Hidden directories (any segment starting
-        with '.') and the pending-delete staging dir are excluded.
+        with '.'), the pending-delete staging dir and the recipes storage
+        dir are excluded.
         """
         discovered: Set[str] = set()
         visited_real_paths: Set[str] = set()
+        # The recipe library is a reserved directory (see the reconcile walk).
+        recipes_dir_key = normalized_recipes_dir_key()
 
         for root_path in self.get_model_roots():
             if not os.path.exists(root_path):
                 continue
 
             for root, dirnames, _files in os.walk(root_path, followlinks=True):
-                dirnames[:] = [d for d in dirnames if not _is_excluded_dir(d)]
+                dirnames[:] = [
+                    d
+                    for d in dirnames
+                    if not _is_excluded_dir(d)
+                    and _dir_entry_key(root, d) != recipes_dir_key
+                ]
                 # realpath is used only for symlink dedup, never for the
                 # recorded path (business paths stay unresolved).
                 real_root = os.path.realpath(root)
@@ -3256,6 +3326,10 @@ class ModelScanner:
         processed_real_files: Set[str] = set()
         visited_real_dirs: Set[str] = set()
         discovered_folders: Set[str] = set()
+        # The recipe library sits inside a lora root by default; it is a
+        # reserved directory, never a model folder, so the scan must not
+        # descend into it.
+        recipes_dir_key = normalized_recipes_dir_key()
 
         async def handle_progress(current_name: str = '') -> None:
             if progress_callback is None:
@@ -3334,6 +3408,11 @@ class ModelScanner:
                         elif entry.is_dir(follow_symlinks=True):
                             if _is_excluded_dir(entry.name):
                                 continue
+                            if (
+                                _dir_entry_key(current_path, entry.name)
+                                == recipes_dir_key
+                            ):
+                                continue
                             # Record every directory (including empty ones) so
                             # the folder tree can be served without a live walk.
                             rel_dir = os.path.relpath(
diff --git a/py/services/recipe_scanner.py b/py/services/recipe_scanner.py
index 9d118102..2900f043 100644
--- a/py/services/recipe_scanner.py
+++ b/py/services/recipe_scanner.py
@@ -2676,23 +2676,11 @@ class RecipeScanner:
     @property
     def recipes_dir(self) -> str:
         """Get path to recipes directory"""
-        from .settings_manager import get_settings_manager
+        from ..utils.recipes_paths import get_effective_recipes_dir
 
-        custom_recipes_dir = get_settings_manager().get("recipes_path", "")
-        if isinstance(custom_recipes_dir, str) and custom_recipes_dir.strip():
-            recipes_dir = os.path.abspath(
-                os.path.normpath(os.path.expanduser(custom_recipes_dir.strip()))
-            )
+        recipes_dir = get_effective_recipes_dir()
+        if recipes_dir:
             os.makedirs(recipes_dir, exist_ok=True)
-            return recipes_dir
-
-        if not config.loras_roots:
-            return ""
-
-        # config.loras_roots already sorted case-insensitively, use the first one
-        recipes_dir = os.path.join(config.loras_roots[0], "recipes")
-        os.makedirs(recipes_dir, exist_ok=True)
-
         return recipes_dir
 
     async def get_cached_data(self, force_refresh: bool = False) -> RecipeCache:
diff --git a/py/utils/recipes_paths.py b/py/utils/recipes_paths.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f028d023
--- /dev/null
+++ b/py/utils/recipes_paths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+"""Resolution of the recipe library's storage directory.
+
+Kept side-effect free (no directory creation): model scanners and file
+services consult these helpers on hot paths, where silently materializing
+the folder would be a surprise. ``RecipeScanner.recipes_dir`` remains the
+write endpoint and adds the ``makedirs`` itself.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+
+
+def get_effective_recipes_dir() -> str:
+    """Resolve the directory recipe data lives in. May not exist on disk.
+
+    Mirrors ``RecipeScanner.recipes_dir`` minus the auto-create: the
+    ``recipes_path`` setting wins; otherwise the default is ``recipes``
+    under the first configured lora root (``config.loras_roots`` is already
+    sorted case-insensitively). Returns ``""`` when no lora root exists.
+    """
+    # Local imports: services -> config -> utils dependency direction must
+    # not pick up a utils -> services edge at module import time.
+    from ..services.settings_manager import get_settings_manager
+    from ..config import config
+
+    custom_recipes_dir = get_settings_manager().get("recipes_path", "")
+    if isinstance(custom_recipes_dir, str) and custom_recipes_dir.strip():
+        return os.path.abspath(
+            os.path.normpath(os.path.expanduser(custom_recipes_dir.strip()))
+        )
+
+    lora_roots = [
+        path
+        for path in (getattr(config, "loras_roots", None) or [])
+        if isinstance(path, str) and path.strip()
+    ]
+    if not lora_roots:
+        return ""
+
+    return os.path.abspath(os.path.join(lora_roots[0], "recipes"))
+
+
+def normalized_recipes_dir_key() -> str:
+    """Comparison key (normcase + abspath) for the recipes dir; "" if unknown."""
+    try:
+        recipes_dir = get_effective_recipes_dir()
+    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - never break a scan over settings access
+        return ""
+    if not recipes_dir:
+        return ""
+    return os.path.normcase(os.path.abspath(recipes_dir))
+
+
+def path_is_or_contains_recipes_dir(path: str) -> bool:
+    """True when *path* is the recipes dir or one of its ancestors.
+
+    Deleting or renaming an ancestor wipes the recipe library just the same,
+    so folder operations must refuse both shapes.
+    """
+    key = normalized_recipes_dir_key()
+    if not key:
+        return False
+    candidate = os.path.normcase(os.path.abspath(path))
+    return candidate == key or key.startswith(candidate + os.sep)
diff --git a/static/js/components/SidebarManager.js b/static/js/components/SidebarManager.js
index 09c0edff..34da5d2a 100644
--- a/static/js/components/SidebarManager.js
+++ b/static/js/components/SidebarManager.js
@@ -1301,6 +1301,8 @@ export class SidebarManager {
                     ...this._notEmptyBlocker(error?.manifest),
                     ...options,
                 });
+            } else if (error?.code === 'protected') {
+                this._renderDeleteFolderModal(relativePath, 'protected', options);
             } else if (error?.code === 'busy') {
                 this._renderDeleteFolderModal(relativePath, 'busy', options);
             } else if (error?.code === 'missing') {
@@ -1458,6 +1460,9 @@ export class SidebarManager {
                 entry.modelCount = Number(error?.manifest?.model_count) || 0;
                 entry.excludedCount = Number(error?.manifest?.excluded_model_count) || 0;
                 entry.checked = false;
+            } else if (error?.code === 'protected') {
+                entry.status = 'protected';
+                entry.checked = false;
             } else if (error?.code === 'busy') {
                 entry.status = 'busy';
                 entry.checked = false;
@@ -1484,7 +1489,10 @@ export class SidebarManager {
         nodes.checkbox.disabled = !selectable;
         nodes.checkbox.checked = entry.checked;
         nodes.status.textContent = this._deleteFolderRowStatus(entry);
-        nodes.status.classList.toggle('blocked', entry.status === 'not_empty');
+        nodes.status.classList.toggle(
+            'blocked',
+            entry.status === 'not_empty' || entry.status === 'protected'
+        );
     }
 
     /** Whether a probed copy may be selected for deletion. */
@@ -1512,6 +1520,11 @@ export class SidebarManager {
                 return translate('sidebar.folderRoot.busyStatus', {}, 'a deletion is still pending');
             case 'missing':
                 return translate('sidebar.folderRoot.missingStatus', {}, 'no longer exists on disk');
+            case 'protected':
+                return translate(
+                    'sidebar.folderRoot.protectedStatus', {},
+                    'holds the recipe library — cannot be deleted here'
+                );
             case 'symlink':
                 return translate(
                     'sidebar.folderRoot.symlinkStatus', {},
@@ -1738,9 +1751,10 @@ export class SidebarManager {
      * `state` is 'confirm' (deletion may proceed), 'blocked' (models would be
      * cascaded over, which the backend refuses), 'busy' (a staged delete is
      * still pending inside the folder), 'missing' (no root holds the node's
-     * directory any more) or 'symlink' (every copy is a symbolic link, which the
-     * backend refuses to remove). `checking` keeps the confirm button disabled
-     * while the authoritative server-side check runs.
+     * directory any more), 'symlink' (every copy is a symbolic link, which the
+     * backend refuses to remove) or 'protected' (the folder holds the recipe
+     * library, which the backend refuses to remove). `checking` keeps the
+     * confirm button disabled while the authoritative server-side check runs.
      *
      * This is the single-target form, used when the node maps to at most one
      * directory; an ambiguous node renders the multi-root list instead (see
@@ -1816,6 +1830,14 @@ export class SidebarManager {
                     'sidebar.deleteFolderModal.symlinkMessage', {},
                     'Every copy of this folder is a symbolic link; remove the link or its target outside LoRA Manager.'
                 );
+            } else if (state === 'protected') {
+                title.textContent = translate(
+                    'sidebar.deleteFolderModal.protectedTitle', {}, 'Folder is protected'
+                );
+                message.textContent = translate(
+                    'sidebar.deleteFolderModal.protectedMessage', {},
+                    'This folder holds the recipe library and cannot be deleted from LoRA Manager.'
+                );
             } else {
                 title.textContent = translate(
                     'sidebar.deleteFolderModal.notEmptyTitle', {}, 'Folder is not empty'
diff --git a/tests/frontend/components/sidebarManager.folderManagement.test.js b/tests/frontend/components/sidebarManager.folderManagement.test.js
index ba5a3a88..b7098cc3 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/components/sidebarManager.folderManagement.test.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/components/sidebarManager.folderManagement.test.js
@@ -794,6 +794,21 @@ describe('SidebarManager folder deletion', () => {
     expect(confirmBtn().style.display).toBe('none');
   });
 
+  it('blocks the delete when the folder holds the recipe library', async () => {
+    const protectedError = Object.assign(new Error('recipe library'), { code: 'protected' });
+    const apiClient = createApiClient({
+      deleteFolder: vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(protectedError),
+    });
+    const manager = createManager(apiClient);
+    manager.nonEmptyFolders = new Set(['', 'full']);
+
+    await manager.showDeleteFolderModal('empty');
+
+    const modal = document.getElementById('deleteFolderModal');
+    expect(modal.dataset.state).toBe('protected');
+    expect(confirmBtn().style.display).toBe('none');
+  });
+
   it('keeps the confirm button disabled until the check settles', async () => {
     let release;
     const apiClient = createApiClient({
diff --git a/tests/services/test_model_file_service.py b/tests/services/test_model_file_service.py
index 4b6ced28..0e25b2c4 100644
--- a/tests/services/test_model_file_service.py
+++ b/tests/services/test_model_file_service.py
@@ -628,3 +628,86 @@ async def test_rename_folder_requires_path(tmp_path: Path):
     result = await service.rename_folder("", "renamed")
 
     assert result["success"] is False
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_delete_folder_refuses_the_recipes_dir(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch):
+    """The default recipes dir lives in the first lora root and holds no model
+    weight files, so the model_count check alone would let it be wiped."""
+    from py.config import config
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+    scanner = FakeScanner([tmp_path])
+    service = ModelMoveService(scanner, "lora")
+
+    target = tmp_path / "recipes"
+    target.mkdir()
+    recipe_file = target / "abc123.recipe.json"
+    recipe_file.write_text("{}", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    result = await service.delete_folder(str(target))
+
+    assert result["success"] is False
+    assert result["code"] == "protected"
+    assert recipe_file.exists()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_delete_folder_refuses_an_ancestor_of_the_recipes_dir(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch
+):
+    """Deleting a parent of the recipes dir wipes the library just the same."""
+    from py.services.settings_manager import get_settings_manager
+
+    recipes_dir = tmp_path / "data" / "recipes"
+    recipes_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    manager = get_settings_manager()
+    monkeypatch.setitem(manager.settings, "recipes_path", str(recipes_dir))
+
+    scanner = FakeScanner([tmp_path])
+    service = ModelMoveService(scanner, "lora")
+
+    result = await service.delete_folder(str(tmp_path / "data"))
+
+    assert result["success"] is False
+    assert result["code"] == "protected"
+    assert recipes_dir.is_dir()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_delete_folder_allows_normal_folders_next_to_the_recipes_dir(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch
+):
+    from py.config import config
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+    (tmp_path / "recipes").mkdir()
+    scanner = FakeScanner([tmp_path])
+    service = ModelMoveService(scanner, "lora")
+
+    target = tmp_path / "recipes_backup"
+    target.mkdir()
+
+    result = await service.delete_folder(str(target))
+
+    assert result["success"] is True
+    assert not target.exists()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_rename_folder_refuses_the_recipes_dir(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch):
+    from py.config import config
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+    scanner = FakeScanner([tmp_path])
+    service = ModelMoveService(scanner, "lora")
+
+    target = tmp_path / "recipes"
+    target.mkdir()
+
+    result = await service.rename_folder(str(target), "recipes2")
+
+    assert result["success"] is False
+    assert result["code"] == "protected"
+    assert target.is_dir()
+    assert scanner.renamed_folders == []
diff --git a/tests/services/test_model_scanner.py b/tests/services/test_model_scanner.py
index 409e5a57..d3e7c576 100644
--- a/tests/services/test_model_scanner.py
+++ b/tests/services/test_model_scanner.py
@@ -2859,3 +2859,93 @@ def test_root_display_labels_dedupe_by_parent_segments(monkeypatch):
     label = _root_display_labels([long_root])[long_root]
     assert len(label) <= 40
     assert label.endswith("loras")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_scan_excludes_recipes_dir_from_all_folders(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch):
+    """The default recipes dir lives under the first lora root; it is a
+    reserved directory and must never appear in the folder tree."""
+    _create_files(tmp_path)
+    recipes = tmp_path / "recipes"
+    (recipes / "sub").mkdir(parents=True)
+    # A stray weight file inside the recipes dir is not indexed either.
+    (recipes / "stray.txt").write_text("stray", encoding="utf-8")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(model_scanner.config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+
+    scanner = DummyScanner(tmp_path)
+    await scanner._initialize_cache()
+    cache = await scanner.get_cached_data()
+
+    assert not any("/recipes/" in item["file_path"] for item in cache.raw_data)
+    all_folders = await scanner.get_all_folders()
+    assert "recipes" not in all_folders
+    assert "recipes/sub" not in all_folders
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_all_folders_backfill_excludes_recipes_dir(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch):
+    _create_files(tmp_path)
+    (tmp_path / "recipes").mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(model_scanner.config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+
+    scanner = DummyScanner(tmp_path)
+    await scanner._initialize_cache()
+    cache = await scanner.get_cached_data()
+    cache.all_folders = None
+
+    await scanner.get_all_folders()
+    for _ in range(200):
+        if not scanner._all_folders_backfill_running:
+            break
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+
+    assert scanner._all_folders_backfill_running is False
+    assert cache.all_folders is not None
+    assert "recipes" not in cache.all_folders
+    assert "nested" in cache.all_folders
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_all_folders_filters_recipes_dir_from_legacy_snapshots(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch
+):
+    """Snapshots persisted before the walk exclusion still carry the recipes
+    dir; readers filter it out until the next scan rewrites the list."""
+    _create_files(tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(model_scanner.config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+
+    scanner = DummyScanner(tmp_path)
+    await scanner._initialize_cache()
+    cache = await scanner.get_cached_data()
+    cache.all_folders = sorted(
+        set(cache.all_folders or []) | {"recipes", "recipes/sub"},
+        key=lambda value: value.lower(),
+    )
+
+    all_folders = await scanner.get_all_folders()
+
+    assert "recipes" not in all_folders
+    assert "recipes/sub" not in all_folders
+    assert "nested" in all_folders
+
+
+def test_reconcile_walk_skips_the_recipes_dir(tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch):
+    (tmp_path / "recipes" / "sub").mkdir(parents=True)
+    (tmp_path / "keep").mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(model_scanner.config, "loras_roots", [str(tmp_path)])
+
+    result = model_scanner._walk_root_for_reconcile(
+        root_path=str(tmp_path),
+        file_extensions={".txt"},
+        cached_paths=set(),
+        path_to_item={},
+        lookups=model_scanner._CachedPathLookups(set()),
+        dir_claims=model_scanner._RealDirClaims(),
+        excluded_models=set(),
+        is_cancelled=lambda: False,
+        report_progress=lambda _files_seen: None,
+    )
+
+    assert "keep" in result.discovered_folders
+    assert "recipes" not in result.discovered_folders
+    assert "recipes/sub" not in result.discovered_folders