diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 4a9040c..c7ef18e 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -396,13 +396,16 @@ def file_hash(path: Path) -> str:
     return hasher.hexdigest()
 
 
-def cache_file(source: Path, node_type: str = "output") -> str:
+async def cache_file(source: Path, node_type: str = "output") -> str:
     """
     Copy file to cache using L1CacheManager, return content hash.
 
     Uses artdag's Cache internally for proper tracking.
+    Saves IPFS CID to database.
     """
     cached, ipfs_cid = cache_manager.put(source, node_type=node_type)
+    # Save to cache_items table (with IPFS CID)
+    await database.create_cache_item(cached.content_hash, ipfs_cid)
     return cached.content_hash
 
 
@@ -609,7 +612,7 @@ async def get_run(run_id: str):
 
                 # Cache the output (legacy mode - DAG already caches via cache_manager)
                 if output_path and output_path.exists() and "output_hash" not in result:
-                    cache_file(output_path, node_type="effect_output")
+                    await cache_file(output_path, node_type="effect_output")
 
                     # Record activity for deletion tracking (legacy mode)
                     if run.output_hash and run.inputs:
@@ -739,7 +742,7 @@ async def run_detail(run_id: str, request: Request):
                 run.infrastructure = result.get("infrastructure")
                 output_path = Path(result.get("output", {}).get("local_path", ""))
                 if output_path.exists():
-                    cache_file(output_path)
+                    await cache_file(output_path)
             else:
                 run.status = "failed"
                 run.error = str(task.result)
@@ -2561,7 +2564,7 @@ async def import_to_cache(path: str):
     if not source.exists():
         raise HTTPException(404, f"File not found: {path}")
 
-    content_hash = cache_file(source)
+    content_hash = await cache_file(source)
     return {"content_hash": content_hash, "cached": True}
 
 
@@ -2686,6 +2689,9 @@ async def upload_to_cache(file: UploadFile = File(...), ctx: UserContext = Depen
     cached, ipfs_cid = cache_manager.put(tmp_path, node_type="upload", move=True)
     content_hash = cached.content_hash
 
+    # Save to cache_items table (with IPFS CID)
+    await database.create_cache_item(content_hash, ipfs_cid)
+
     # Save uploader metadata to database
     await database.save_item_metadata(
         content_hash=content_hash,
@@ -3656,7 +3662,7 @@ async def ui_run_partial(run_id: str, request: Request):
                 run.infrastructure = result.get("infrastructure")
                 output_path = Path(result.get("output", {}).get("local_path", ""))
                 if output_path.exists():
-                    cache_file(output_path)
+                    await cache_file(output_path)
             else:
                 run.status = "failed"
                 run.error = str(task.result)