diff --git a/.changes/electron-backend-zero-delay-cancellation.md b/.changes/electron-backend-zero-delay-cancellation.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f5aef92e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/electron-backend-zero-delay-cancellation.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+type: fix
+area: electron-backend
+---
+
+Cancelling a large Xtream import now stops database work even while it is
+running at full speed, instead of letting the import finish before processing
+the cancel request.
diff --git a/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database-worker-zero-delay-cancellation.spec.ts b/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database-worker-zero-delay-cancellation.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b32236964
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database-worker-zero-delay-cancellation.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+import { MessageChannel, type MessagePort } from 'node:worker_threads';
+import type {
+    DbWorkerIncomingMessage,
+    DbWorkerMessage,
+    DbWorkerResponseMessage,
+} from './database-worker.types';
+
+const BATCH_DELAY_ENV = 'IPTVNATOR_DB_WORKER_BATCH_DELAY_MS';
+const WORKER_PROFILING_ENV = 'IPTVNATOR_PERF_WORKER_PROFILING';
+const originalBatchDelay = process.env[BATCH_DELAY_ENV];
+const originalWorkerProfiling = process.env[WORKER_PROFILING_ENV];
+
+function restoreEnvironment(name: string, value: string | undefined): void {
+    if (value === undefined) {
+        delete process.env[name];
+    } else {
+        process.env[name] = value;
+    }
+}
+
+function postWorkerMessage(
+    port: MessagePort,
+    message: DbWorkerIncomingMessage
+): void {
+    port.postMessage(message);
+}
+
+describe('database worker zero-delay cancellation', () => {
+    let workerPort: MessagePort | null = null;
+    let clientPort: MessagePort | null = null;
+
+    afterEach(() => {
+        workerPort?.close();
+        clientPort?.close();
+        workerPort = null;
+        clientPort = null;
+        restoreEnvironment(BATCH_DELAY_ENV, originalBatchDelay);
+        restoreEnvironment(WORKER_PROFILING_ENV, originalWorkerProfiling);
+        jest.restoreAllMocks();
+        jest.resetModules();
+    });
+
+    it('processes cancel posted from progress before the default-delay operation completes', async () => {
+        delete process.env[BATCH_DELAY_ENV];
+        delete process.env[WORKER_PROFILING_ENV];
+
+        const channel = new MessageChannel();
+        workerPort = channel.port1;
+        clientPort = channel.port2;
+        const messages: DbWorkerMessage[] = [];
+        let cancelPosted = false;
+        let settleResponse!: (response: DbWorkerResponseMessage) => void;
+        const responsePromise = new Promise<DbWorkerResponseMessage>(
+            (resolve) => {
+                settleResponse = resolve;
+            }
+        );
+
+        clientPort.on('message', (message: DbWorkerMessage) => {
+            messages.push(message);
+
+            if (
+                !cancelPosted &&
+                message.type === 'event' &&
+                message.event.status === 'progress'
+            ) {
+                cancelPosted = true;
+                postWorkerMessage(clientPort!, {
+                    type: 'cancel',
+                    operationId: 'operation-zero-delay',
+                });
+            }
+
+            if (message.type === 'response') {
+                settleResponse(message);
+            }
+        });
+
+        jest.doMock('worker_threads', () => ({
+            ...jest.requireActual('worker_threads'),
+            parentPort: workerPort,
+        }));
+        jest.doMock('./database.worker-connection', () => ({
+            closeWorkerDatabase: jest.fn(),
+            getWorkerDatabase: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({}),
+        }));
+        jest.doMock('../database/operations/content.operations', () => ({
+            saveContent: jest.fn(
+                async (
+                    _db: unknown,
+                    _playlistId: string,
+                    _streams: unknown[],
+                    _type: string,
+                    control: {
+                        checkpoint: () => Promise<void>;
+                        onProgress: (progress: {
+                            phase: string;
+                            current: number;
+                            total: number;
+                        }) => Promise<void>;
+                    }
+                ) => {
+                    for (let current = 1; current <= 3; current += 1) {
+                        await control.checkpoint();
+                        await control.onProgress({
+                            phase: 'saving-content',
+                            current,
+                            total: 3,
+                        });
+                    }
+                    return { count: 3, success: true };
+                }
+            ),
+        }));
+        jest.doMock('./worker-performance-capture', () => ({
+            armWorkerPerformanceCapture: jest.fn(),
+            executeWithWorkerPerformanceCapture: jest.fn(
+                async (_capture: unknown, execute: () => Promise<unknown>) => {
+                    try {
+                        return {
+                            error: null,
+                            performance: undefined,
+                            result: await execute(),
+                            success: true,
+                        };
+                    } catch (error) {
+                        return {
+                            error,
+                            performance: undefined,
+                            result: undefined,
+                            success: false,
+                        };
+                    }
+                }
+            ),
+            registerDatabaseWorkerPerformanceCapture: jest.fn(),
+            releaseDatabaseWorkerPerformanceCapture: jest.fn(),
+            stampWorkerPerformanceResponsePostedEpoch: jest.fn(
+                (_capture: unknown, performance: unknown) => performance
+            ),
+            startWorkerPerformanceCapture: jest.fn(() => null),
+        }));
+        jest.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+
+        await import('./database.worker');
+        postWorkerMessage(clientPort, {
+            type: 'request',
+            operation: 'DB_SAVE_CONTENT',
+            payload: {
+                operationId: 'operation-zero-delay',
+                playlistId: 'playlist-1',
+                streams: [{ stream_id: 1 }, { stream_id: 2 }],
+                type: 'live',
+            },
+            requestId: 'request-zero-delay',
+        });
+
+        const response = await responsePromise;
+
+        expect(cancelPosted).toBe(true);
+        expect(messages).toContainEqual(
+            expect.objectContaining({
+                event: expect.objectContaining({
+                    operationId: 'operation-zero-delay',
+                    status: 'cancelled',
+                }),
+                requestId: 'request-zero-delay',
+                type: 'event',
+            })
+        );
+        expect(response).toEqual(
+            expect.objectContaining({
+                error: expect.objectContaining({ name: 'AbortError' }),
+                requestId: 'request-zero-delay',
+                success: false,
+                type: 'response',
+            })
+        );
+    });
+});
diff --git a/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database.worker.ts b/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database.worker.ts
index 61ca7f54d..7ac3e6501 100644
--- a/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database.worker.ts
+++ b/apps/electron-backend/src/app/workers/database.worker.ts
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ function postEvent(requestId: string, event: DbOperationEvent): void {
 
 async function pauseBetweenBatches(): Promise<void> {
     if (batchDelayMs <= 0) {
+        await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve));
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/docs/architecture/sqlite-db-worker.md b/docs/architecture/sqlite-db-worker.md
index 54f8bc266..56504eb66 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/sqlite-db-worker.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/sqlite-db-worker.md
@@ -723,7 +723,10 @@ For deterministic E2E timing, tests may set:
 IPTVNATOR_DB_WORKER_BATCH_DELAY_MS=20
 ```
 
-This delay is test-only and disabled by default.
+This artificial delay is test-only and disabled by default. At the default
+value of `0`, every cancellable batch checkpoint still yields one event-loop
+turn without adding a timer delay. That yield lets the worker receive a queued
+cancel message before starting the next batch.
 
 ### Useful verification commands