diff --git a/cache_manager.py b/cache_manager.py
index 2514770..882d3af 100644
--- a/cache_manager.py
+++ b/cache_manager.py
@@ -171,105 +171,61 @@ class L1CacheManager:
     # Content index maps: CID (content hash or IPFS CID) -> node_id (code hash)
     # IPFS index maps: node_id -> IPFS CID
     #
-    # Database is source of truth for cache_id -> ipfs_cid mapping.
-    # Redis is used as fast cache on top.
+    # Database is the ONLY source of truth for cache_id -> ipfs_cid mapping.
+    # No fallbacks - failures raise exceptions.
+
+    def _run_async(self, coro):
+        """Run async coroutine from sync context."""
+        import asyncio
+        try:
+            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+            if loop.is_running():
+                # Create new loop in thread
+                import concurrent.futures
+                with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor() as executor:
+                    future = executor.submit(asyncio.run, coro)
+                    return future.result(timeout=30)
+            else:
+                return loop.run_until_complete(coro)
+        except RuntimeError:
+            return asyncio.run(coro)
 
     def _set_content_index(self, cache_id: str, ipfs_cid: str):
         """Set content index entry in database (cache_id -> ipfs_cid)."""
-        import asyncio
         import database
 
-        # Save to database (persistent)
         async def save_to_db():
             if database.pool is None:
                 await database.init_db()
             await database.create_cache_item(cache_id, ipfs_cid)
 
-        try:
-            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-            if loop.is_running():
-                asyncio.ensure_future(save_to_db())
-            else:
-                loop.run_until_complete(save_to_db())
-        except RuntimeError:
-            asyncio.run(save_to_db())
-
-        # Also cache in Redis for fast lookup
-        if self._redis:
-            try:
-                self._redis.hset(self._redis_content_key, cache_id, ipfs_cid)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Failed to set content index in Redis: {e}")
+        self._run_async(save_to_db())
+        logger.info(f"Indexed in database: {cache_id[:16]}... -> {ipfs_cid}")
 
     def _get_content_index(self, cache_id: str) -> Optional[str]:
-        """Get content index entry (cache_id -> ipfs_cid)."""
-        import asyncio
+        """Get content index entry (cache_id -> ipfs_cid) from database."""
         import database
 
-        # Check Redis first (fast cache)
-        if self._redis:
-            try:
-                val = self._redis.hget(self._redis_content_key, cache_id)
-                if val:
-                    return val.decode() if isinstance(val, bytes) else val
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Failed to get content index from Redis: {e}")
-
-        # Fall back to database (persistent)
         async def get_from_db():
             if database.pool is None:
                 await database.init_db()
             return await database.get_cache_item(cache_id)
 
-        try:
-            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-            if loop.is_running():
-                # Can't await in sync context with running loop
-                # Return None and let caller handle
-                return None
-            else:
-                result = loop.run_until_complete(get_from_db())
-        except RuntimeError:
-            result = asyncio.run(get_from_db())
-
+        result = self._run_async(get_from_db())
         if result and result.get("ipfs_cid"):
-            ipfs_cid = result["ipfs_cid"]
-            # Populate Redis cache
-            if self._redis:
-                try:
-                    self._redis.hset(self._redis_content_key, cache_id, ipfs_cid)
-                except:
-                    pass
-            return ipfs_cid
-
+            return result["ipfs_cid"]
         return None
 
     def _del_content_index(self, cache_id: str):
-        """Delete content index entry."""
-        import asyncio
+        """Delete content index entry from database."""
         import database
 
-        # Delete from database
         async def delete_from_db():
             if database.pool is None:
                 await database.init_db()
             await database.delete_cache_item(cache_id)
 
-        try:
-            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-            if loop.is_running():
-                asyncio.ensure_future(delete_from_db())
-            else:
-                loop.run_until_complete(delete_from_db())
-        except RuntimeError:
-            asyncio.run(delete_from_db())
-
-        # Also delete from Redis
-        if self._redis:
-            try:
-                self._redis.hdel(self._redis_content_key, cache_id)
-            except Exception as e:
-                logger.warning(f"Failed to delete content index from Redis: {e}")
+        self._run_async(delete_from_db())
 
     def _set_ipfs_index(self, cid: str, ipfs_cid: str):
         """Set IPFS index entry in Redis."""