diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3c13793..bd21c6c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,7 +5,15 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
-## [0.9.1] - 2026-05-07
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Embedded Replica Initial Sync** - `connect/1` now performs an initial sync before serving any reads when an embedded replica is opened with `sync: true`. LibSQL pushes local writes to the primary on its own, but it never pulls remote changes unless `sync/1` is called, so a freshly opened replica read from an empty or stale local file - contradicting the README's claim that initial sync happens when you first connect. (Reported in [#118](https://github.com/ocean/ecto_libsql/issues/118))
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Replica Sync Documentation** - Corrected the README's description of automatic sync. Remote changes made *after* you connect are not pulled in the background; `sync/1` is still required to observe them.
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index af9172b..b0a0a9c 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -317,6 +317,27 @@ cd native/ecto_libsql && cargo test -- --nocapture  # Rust output with stdout
 for i in {1..10}; do mix test test/file.exs:42; done # Flush out race conditions
 ```
 
+### ⚠️ `mix test` does NOT exercise your Rust changes
+
+The NIF is loaded via `RustlerPrecompiled`, so `mix test` uses the **downloaded** artefact
+for the current version and silently ignores edits under `native/ecto_libsql/src`. Rust
+changes can appear fully green while never having been loaded. To test them for real:
+
+```bash
+export ECTO_LIBSQL_BUILD=1          # force a source build
+MIX_ENV=test mix compile --force    # --force required; plain `mix compile` no-ops
+ERL_FLAGS="+sssdio 8192" mix test   # debug builds need a larger dirty-IO stack
+```
+
+- `--force` is required: without a changed Elixir file Mix skips the crate build entirely.
+- `_build/dev` and `_build/test` hold separate NIFs - rebuild for the env you are using.
+- `ERL_FLAGS="+sssdio 8192"` avoids a `SIGBUS` (exit 138) VM abort. `native.ex` selects
+  `mode: :debug` for dev/test and debug-built libSQL overflows the default dirty-IO
+  scheduler stack, usually on the first remote connection, so it looks unrelated.
+
+Check for `Compiling crate ecto_libsql` in the output; `Copying NIF from cache` means you
+are still on the precompiled artefact. See [TESTING.md](TESTING.md) for detail.
+
 ### Test Variable Naming Conventions
 
 Use consistent variable names by scope:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b1e7a0..bf26b33 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -363,9 +363,11 @@ EctoLibSql.handle_execute("SELECT * FROM users", [], [], state)
 ```
 
 **How automatic sync works:**
-- Initial sync happens when you first connect
-- Changes are synced automatically in the background
-- You don't need to call `sync/1` in most applications
+- An initial sync runs when you first connect, so the replica starts from the current
+  state of the primary rather than an empty or stale local file
+- Your own writes are pushed to the primary automatically as you make them
+- Remote changes made *after* you connect are **not** pulled in the background - call
+  `sync/1` when you need to observe them
 
 #### Manual Sync Control
 
diff --git a/TESTING.md b/TESTING.md
index 4496e0f..2a045c5 100644
--- a/TESTING.md
+++ b/TESTING.md
@@ -362,6 +362,47 @@ test tests::registry_tests::test_uuid_generation ... ok
 test result: ok. 19 passed; 0 failed; 0 ignored
 ```
 
+### ⚠️ Exercising Rust changes from the Elixir suite
+
+`cargo test` covers the Rust in isolation, but `mix test` does **not** pick up your Rust
+changes by default. `EctoLibSql.Native` is built on `RustlerPrecompiled`, so the NIF is
+downloaded from the release artefacts for the current version, and an edit to
+`native/ecto_libsql/src` is silently ignored. A change can look completely green locally
+while never having been loaded.
+
+To run the Elixir suite against locally built Rust:
+
+```bash
+export ECTO_LIBSQL_BUILD=1          # force a source build instead of the precompiled NIF
+MIX_ENV=test mix compile --force    # --force is required; plain `mix compile` no-ops
+ERL_FLAGS="+sssdio 8192" mix test
+```
+
+Three things to watch:
+
+- **`--force` is not optional.** Setting `ECTO_LIBSQL_BUILD` alone is not enough, because
+  Mix sees no changed Elixir files and skips the compile that triggers the crate build.
+- **Each `MIX_ENV` has its own NIF.** `_build/dev` and `_build/test` hold separate copies,
+  so building for one leaves the other stale. Rebuild for the env you are about to use.
+- **`ERL_FLAGS="+sssdio 8192"` is needed for local builds.** `lib/ecto_libsql/native.ex`
+  selects `mode: :debug` for `:dev` and `:test`, and debug-built libSQL overflows the
+  default dirty-IO scheduler stack, aborting the VM with `SIGBUS` (exit 138) - typically
+  on the first remote connection, which makes it look like an unrelated failure. These
+  NIFs run with `schedule = "DirtyIo"`, so `+sssdio` is the stack size that matters. The
+  precompiled artefacts are release builds and do not need this.
+
+Confirm you are actually running your own build - this line means the crate compiled:
+
+```
+Compiling crate ecto_libsql in debug mode (native/ecto_libsql)
+```
+
+whereas this line means you are still on the precompiled NIF:
+
+```
+[debug] Copying NIF from cache and extracting to .../libecto_libsql-vX.Y.Z-....so
+```
+
 ### Elixir Tests
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/native/ecto_libsql/src/connection.rs b/native/ecto_libsql/src/connection.rs
index 4c0110b..b76e36a 100644
--- a/native/ecto_libsql/src/connection.rs
+++ b/native/ecto_libsql/src/connection.rs
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ pub fn connect(opts: Term, mode: Term) -> NifResult<String> {
     let remote_encryption_key = map
         .get("remote_encryption_key")
         .and_then(|t| t.decode::<String>().ok());
+    let sync_enabled = map
+        .get("sync")
+        .and_then(|t| t.decode::<bool>().ok())
+        .unwrap_or(false);
 
     // Wrap the entire connection process with a timeout using the global runtime.
     TOKIO_RUNTIME.block_on(async {
@@ -136,6 +140,16 @@ pub fn connect(opts: Term, mode: Term) -> NifResult<String> {
             }
             .map_err(|e| rustler::Error::Term(Box::new(format!("Failed to build DB: {e}"))))?;
 
+            // Pull the current state of the primary before serving any reads. LibSQL pushes
+            // writes to the primary on its own, but it never pulls remote changes unless
+            // sync() is called, so without this a freshly opened replica reads from an empty
+            // or stale local file.
+            if mode_enum == Mode::RemoteReplica && sync_enabled {
+                db.sync().await.map_err(|e| {
+                    rustler::Error::Term(Box::new(format!("Failed initial sync: {e}")))
+                })?;
+            }
+
             let conn = db
                 .connect()
                 .map_err(|e| rustler::Error::Term(Box::new(format!("Failed to connect: {e}"))))?;
diff --git a/test/turso_remote_test.exs b/test/turso_remote_test.exs
index ce1a3da..6b9c213 100644
--- a/test/turso_remote_test.exs
+++ b/test/turso_remote_test.exs
@@ -719,6 +719,56 @@ defmodule TursoRemoteTest do
   end
 
   describe "embedded replica with sync" do
+    test "a fresh replica sees existing remote rows without a manual sync", %{table_name: table} do
+      # Regression test for #118. LibSQL pushes local writes to the primary on its own,
+      # but it never pulls remote changes unless sync() is called, so before the initial
+      # sync was added to connect/1 a freshly opened replica read from an empty local
+      # file and returned nothing here.
+      {:ok, remote_state} = EctoLibSql.connect(uri: @turso_uri, auth_token: @turso_token)
+
+      {:ok, _, _, remote_state} =
+        EctoLibSql.handle_execute(
+          "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS #{table} (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, value TEXT)",
+          [],
+          [],
+          remote_state
+        )
+
+      {:ok, _, _, remote_state} =
+        EctoLibSql.handle_execute(
+          "INSERT INTO #{table} (id, value) VALUES (?, ?)",
+          [1, "written_before_replica_existed"],
+          [],
+          remote_state
+        )
+
+      EctoLibSql.disconnect([], remote_state)
+
+      local_db = "z_ecto_libsql_test-initial_sync_#{:erlang.unique_integer([:positive])}.db"
+      on_exit(fn -> cleanup_local_db(local_db) end)
+
+      {:ok, replica_state} =
+        EctoLibSql.connect(
+          database: local_db,
+          uri: @turso_uri,
+          auth_token: @turso_token,
+          sync: true
+        )
+
+      # Read immediately, with no intervening EctoLibSql.Native.sync/1 call.
+      {:ok, _, result, replica_state} =
+        EctoLibSql.handle_execute(
+          "SELECT value FROM #{table} WHERE id = ?",
+          [1],
+          [],
+          replica_state
+        )
+
+      assert result.rows == [["written_before_replica_existed"]]
+
+      EctoLibSql.disconnect([], replica_state)
+    end
+
     test "automatic sync from local to remote", %{table_name: table} do
       # Create unique local database file for this test
       local_db = "z_ecto_libsql_test-replica_#{:erlang.unique_integer([:positive])}.db"