diff --git a/src/gaia/agents/base/memory.py b/src/gaia/agents/base/memory.py
index 5bb2016c8..93303c519 100644
--- a/src/gaia/agents/base/memory.py
+++ b/src/gaia/agents/base/memory.py
@@ -636,17 +636,35 @@ def _get_embedder(self) -> Any:
                 f"Failed to initialize Lemonade embedding provider: {e}"
             ) from e
 
+    def _get_embedding_cache(self):
+        """Lazy-init the content-keyed embedding cache (per-instance)."""
+        cache = getattr(self, "_embedding_cache", None)
+        if cache is None:
+            from gaia.llm.embedding_cache import EmbeddingCache
+
+            cache = EmbeddingCache()
+            self._embedding_cache = cache
+        return cache
+
     def _embed_text(self, text: str) -> np.ndarray:
         """Embed text via Lemonade (nomic-embed-text-v2-moe-GGUF, 768-dim).
 
         Required, not optional. Raises RuntimeError if embedding fails.
 
+        Identical text is served from a content-keyed cache, so repeated
+        query embeds (same recall query across turns) skip the Lemonade call.
+
         Args:
             text: Text to embed.
 
         Returns:
             L2-normalized float32 numpy array of shape (768,).
         """
+        cache = self._get_embedding_cache()
+        cached = cache.get(EMBEDDING_MODEL, EMBEDDING_DIM, text)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return cached
+
         embedder = self._get_embedder()
         try:
             # LemonadeProvider.embed() returns list[list[float]]
@@ -658,6 +676,7 @@ def _embed_text(self, text: str) -> np.ndarray:
             if norm > 0:
                 vec = vec / norm
 
+            cache.put(EMBEDDING_MODEL, EMBEDDING_DIM, text, vec)
             return vec
         except Exception as e:
             raise RuntimeError(f"Embedding failed: {e}") from e
diff --git a/src/gaia/llm/embedding_cache.py b/src/gaia/llm/embedding_cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..04753e2fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gaia/llm/embedding_cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# Copyright(C) 2025-2026 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+"""Content-keyed LRU cache for text embeddings.
+
+Skips redundant per-turn embeds: the same query text re-embedded across
+turns (or by two tool calls in one turn) pays the Lemonade embed cost once.
+
+The cache key *is* the content — ``(model_id, dim, sha256(text))`` — so a hit
+is never stale, and swapping the embedding model invalidates by construction
+(the model_id component changes). ``dim`` may be ``None`` when the caller does
+not track an expected dimensionality; the model_id alone still guarantees
+correctness.
+"""
+
+import hashlib
+import threading
+from collections import OrderedDict
+from typing import Optional, Tuple
+
+import numpy as np
+
+DEFAULT_MAX_ENTRIES = 512
+
+
+class EmbeddingCache:
+    """Thread-safe, bounded LRU cache mapping text content to its embedding.
+
+    Vectors are stored and returned as copies, so callers can mutate the
+    returned array (e.g. L2-normalize in place) without corrupting the cache.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, max_entries: int = DEFAULT_MAX_ENTRIES):
+        if max_entries < 1:
+            raise ValueError(f"max_entries must be >= 1, got {max_entries}")
+        self._max_entries = max_entries
+        self._store: "OrderedDict[Tuple[str, Optional[int], str], np.ndarray]" = (
+            OrderedDict()
+        )
+        self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        self.hits = 0
+        self.misses = 0
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _make_key(
+        model_id: str, dim: Optional[int], text: str
+    ) -> Tuple[str, Optional[int], str]:
+        text_hash = hashlib.sha256(text.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()
+        return (model_id, dim, text_hash)
+
+    def get(self, model_id: str, dim: Optional[int], text: str) -> Optional[np.ndarray]:
+        """Return a copy of the cached vector, or ``None`` on a miss."""
+        key = self._make_key(model_id, dim, text)
+        with self._lock:
+            vec = self._store.get(key)
+            if vec is None:
+                self.misses += 1
+                return None
+            self._store.move_to_end(key)
+            self.hits += 1
+            return vec.copy()
+
+    def put(
+        self, model_id: str, dim: Optional[int], text: str, vector: np.ndarray
+    ) -> None:
+        """Store a copy of ``vector`` under the content key, evicting LRU entries."""
+        key = self._make_key(model_id, dim, text)
+        with self._lock:
+            self._store[key] = np.asarray(vector).copy()
+            self._store.move_to_end(key)
+            while len(self._store) > self._max_entries:
+                self._store.popitem(last=False)
+
+    def clear(self) -> None:
+        with self._lock:
+            self._store.clear()
+            self.hits = 0
+            self.misses = 0
+
+    def __len__(self) -> int:
+        with self._lock:
+            return len(self._store)
diff --git a/src/gaia/rag/sdk.py b/src/gaia/rag/sdk.py
index 3ecafe902..864b0bd89 100644
--- a/src/gaia/rag/sdk.py
+++ b/src/gaia/rag/sdk.py
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ def __init__(self, config: Optional[RAGConfig] = None):
         self.embedder = None
         self.llm_client = None
         self.use_lemonade_embeddings = False
+        self._embedding_cache = None  # content-keyed query-embed cache (lazy)
         self.index = None
         self.chunks = []
         self.indexed_files = set()
@@ -630,6 +631,34 @@ def _encode_texts(
         # Convert to numpy array
         return np.array(all_embeddings, dtype=np.float32)
 
+    def _get_embedding_cache(self):
+        """Lazy-init the content-keyed embedding cache (per-instance)."""
+        cache = getattr(self, "_embedding_cache", None)
+        if cache is None:
+            from gaia.llm.embedding_cache import EmbeddingCache
+
+            cache = EmbeddingCache()
+            self._embedding_cache = cache
+        return cache
+
+    def _encode_query(self, query: str) -> "np.ndarray":
+        """Encode a single query to a (1, dim) array, served from the
+        content-keyed cache so identical queries across turns skip the embed.
+
+        Falls back to ``_encode_texts`` on a miss. Stored/doc-chunk vectors
+        are persisted elsewhere; this targets repeated *query* embeds only.
+        """
+        cache = self._get_embedding_cache()
+        model_id = self.config.embedding_model
+        cached = cache.get(model_id, None, query)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return np.array([cached], dtype=np.float32)
+
+        embedding = self._encode_texts([query], show_progress=False)
+        if embedding.shape[0] > 0:
+            cache.put(model_id, None, query, embedding[0])
+        return embedding
+
     def _get_file_type(self, file_path: str) -> str:
         """Detect file type from extension."""
         ext = Path(file_path).suffix.lower()
@@ -2855,7 +2884,7 @@ def _retrieve_chunks_from_file(self, query: str, file_path: str) -> tuple:
 
         # Encode query only once
         self._load_embedder()
-        query_embedding = self._encode_texts([query], show_progress=False)
+        query_embedding = self._encode_query(query)
 
         # Search in cached file-specific index
         k = min(self.config.max_chunks, len(file_chunks))
@@ -2933,7 +2962,7 @@ def _search_chunks(self, query: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         if self.config.show_stats:
             print(f"🔍 Searching through {len(chunks_snapshot)} chunks...")
         self.log.debug(f"Encoding query: {query[:50]}...")
-        query_embedding = self._encode_texts([query], show_progress=False)
+        query_embedding = self._encode_query(query)
 
         # Search for similar chunks
         k = min(self.config.max_chunks, len(chunks_snapshot))
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_embedding_cache.py b/tests/unit/test_embedding_cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a23a72c14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_embedding_cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+# Copyright(C) 2025-2026 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+"""Unit tests for the content-keyed embedding cache (issue #1743).
+
+Covers the cache itself plus its wiring into MemoryMixin._embed_text and
+RAGSDK._encode_query: a second identical embed must make zero backend calls,
+and a model/dim change must invalidate (miss).
+"""
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+
+from gaia.llm.embedding_cache import EmbeddingCache
+
+
+class TestEmbeddingCache:
+    def test_hit_returns_stored_vector(self):
+        cache = EmbeddingCache()
+        vec = np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0], dtype=np.float32)
+        assert cache.get("m", 3, "hello") is None
+        cache.put("m", 3, "hello", vec)
+        out = cache.get("m", 3, "hello")
+        assert out is not None
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(out, vec)
+        assert cache.hits == 1
+        assert cache.misses == 1  # the first lookup
+
+    def test_model_change_invalidates(self):
+        cache = EmbeddingCache()
+        cache.put("model-a", 3, "hello", np.zeros(3, dtype=np.float32))
+        assert cache.get("model-b", 3, "hello") is None
+
+    def test_dim_change_invalidates(self):
+        cache = EmbeddingCache()
+        cache.put("m", 768, "hello", np.zeros(768, dtype=np.float32))
+        assert cache.get("m", 384, "hello") is None
+
+    def test_distinct_text_misses(self):
+        cache = EmbeddingCache()
+        cache.put("m", 3, "hello", np.zeros(3, dtype=np.float32))
+        assert cache.get("m", 3, "goodbye") is None
+
+    def test_returned_vector_is_a_copy(self):
+        cache = EmbeddingCache()
+        cache.put("m", 3, "t", np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0], dtype=np.float32))
+        out = cache.get("m", 3, "t")
+        out[0] = 99.0  # mutate caller's copy
+        # cache must be unaffected
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            cache.get("m", 3, "t"), np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0], dtype=np.float32)
+        )
+
+    def test_lru_eviction(self):
+        cache = EmbeddingCache(max_entries=2)
+        cache.put("m", 1, "a", np.zeros(1, dtype=np.float32))
+        cache.put("m", 1, "b", np.zeros(1, dtype=np.float32))
+        cache.get("m", 1, "a")  # touch 'a' so 'b' is now LRU
+        cache.put("m", 1, "c", np.zeros(1, dtype=np.float32))  # evicts 'b'
+        assert cache.get("m", 1, "a") is not None
+        assert cache.get("m", 1, "c") is not None
+        assert cache.get("m", 1, "b") is None
+        assert len(cache) == 2
+
+    def test_invalid_max_entries(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            EmbeddingCache(max_entries=0)
+
+
+class TestMemoryEmbedTextCaching:
+    """MemoryMixin._embed_text serves identical text from the cache."""
+
+    def _host(self):
+        from gaia.agents.base.memory import EMBEDDING_DIM, MemoryMixin
+
+        host = MemoryMixin()
+        mock_embedder = MagicMock()
+        vec = np.random.rand(EMBEDDING_DIM).astype(np.float32).tolist()
+        mock_embedder.embed.return_value = [vec]
+        host._embedder = mock_embedder
+        return host, mock_embedder
+
+    def test_second_identical_embed_makes_zero_backend_calls(self):
+        host, mock_embedder = self._host()
+
+        first = host._embed_text("the same query")
+        second = host._embed_text("the same query")
+
+        assert mock_embedder.embed.call_count == 1
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(first, second)
+
+    def test_distinct_text_calls_backend_again(self):
+        host, mock_embedder = self._host()
+        host._embed_text("query one")
+        host._embed_text("query two")
+        assert mock_embedder.embed.call_count == 2
+
+
+class TestRagEncodeQueryCaching:
+    """RAGSDK._encode_query serves identical queries from the cache."""
+
+    def _sdk(self):
+        from gaia.rag.sdk import RAGSDK
+
+        sdk = RAGSDK.__new__(RAGSDK)  # skip heavy __init__
+        sdk.config = MagicMock()
+        sdk.config.embedding_model = "nomic-embed-text-v2-moe-GGUF"
+        sdk._embedding_cache = None
+        sdk._encode_texts = MagicMock(
+            return_value=np.random.rand(1, 768).astype(np.float32)
+        )
+        return sdk
+
+    def test_second_identical_query_makes_zero_encode_calls(self):
+        sdk = self._sdk()
+        first = sdk._encode_query("what is gaia?")
+        second = sdk._encode_query("what is gaia?")
+
+        assert sdk._encode_texts.call_count == 1
+        assert first.shape == (1, 768)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(first, second)
+
+    def test_distinct_query_encodes_again(self):
+        sdk = self._sdk()
+        sdk._encode_query("query a")
+        sdk._encode_query("query b")
+        assert sdk._encode_texts.call_count == 2