diff --git a/docs/src/js/classes/AutoQuery.md b/docs/src/js/classes/AutoQuery.md
index f62c5e84d..1d7ea6952 100644
--- a/docs/src/js/classes/AutoQuery.md
+++ b/docs/src/js/classes/AutoQuery.md
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
 A builder for automatic string searches.
 
 Automatic search determines whether to use full-text or vector search from
-the table revision selected for execution. This builder exposes the common
-operations supported by both query families.
+the table revision selected for each execution. This builder exposes the
+common operations supported by both query families.
 
 ## Extends
 
diff --git a/nodejs/__test__/table.test.ts b/nodejs/__test__/table.test.ts
index 7ace628ee..aaa31f1db 100644
--- a/nodejs/__test__/table.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/__test__/table.test.ts
@@ -1889,6 +1889,37 @@ describe("automatic search schema consistency", () => {
       second.close();
     }
   });
+
+  it("refreshes a reused automatic search for every execution", async () => {
+    const first = await connect(tmpDir.name, { readConsistencyInterval: 0 });
+    const second = await connect(tmpDir.name, { readConsistencyInterval: 0 });
+
+    try {
+      const table = await first.createTable("docs", [
+        { text: "hello before", marker: "before" },
+      ]);
+      await table.createIndex("text", { config: Index.fts() });
+      const search = table.search("hello").select(["text"]);
+
+      const before = (await search.toArray())[0];
+      expect(before.text).toBe("hello before");
+      expect(before.marker).toBeUndefined();
+
+      const replacement = await second.createTable(
+        "docs",
+        [{ text: "hello after", marker: "after" }],
+        { mode: "overwrite" },
+      );
+      await replacement.createIndex("text", { config: Index.fts() });
+
+      const after = (await search.toArray())[0];
+      expect(after.text).toBe("hello after");
+      expect(after.marker).toBeUndefined();
+    } finally {
+      first.close();
+      second.close();
+    }
+  });
 });
 
 describe("schema evolution", function () {
diff --git a/nodejs/lancedb/query.ts b/nodejs/lancedb/query.ts
index 55a18ff38..3b9b286a0 100644
--- a/nodejs/lancedb/query.ts
+++ b/nodejs/lancedb/query.ts
@@ -111,13 +111,15 @@ export class QueryBase<
   NativeQueryType extends NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery | NativeTakeQuery,
 > implements AsyncIterable<RecordBatch>
 {
+  protected inner!: NativeQueryType | Promise<NativeQueryType>;
+
   /**
    * @hidden
    */
-  protected constructor(
-    protected inner: NativeQueryType | Promise<NativeQueryType>,
-  ) {
-    // intentionally empty
+  protected constructor(inner?: NativeQueryType | Promise<NativeQueryType>) {
+    if (inner !== undefined) {
+      this.inner = inner;
+    }
   }
 
   // call a function on the inner (either a promise or the actual object)
@@ -135,6 +137,15 @@ export class QueryBase<
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Return the native query used by the next terminal operation.
+   *
+   * @hidden
+   */
+  protected async getInner(): Promise<NativeQueryType> {
+    return this.inner;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Return only the specified columns.
    *
@@ -207,16 +218,11 @@ export class QueryBase<
   /**
    * @hidden
    */
-  protected nativeExecute(
+  protected async nativeExecute(
     options?: Partial<QueryExecutionOptions>,
   ): Promise<NativeBatchIterator> {
-    if (this.inner instanceof Promise) {
-      return this.inner.then((inner) =>
-        inner.execute(options?.maxBatchLength, options?.timeoutMs),
-      );
-    } else {
-      return this.inner.execute(options?.maxBatchLength, options?.timeoutMs);
-    }
+    const inner = await this.getInner();
+    return inner.execute(options?.maxBatchLength, options?.timeoutMs);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -245,12 +251,7 @@ export class QueryBase<
   /** Collect the results as an Arrow @see {@link ArrowTable}. */
   async toArrow(options?: Partial<QueryExecutionOptions>): Promise<ArrowTable> {
     const batches = [];
-    let inner;
-    if (this.inner instanceof Promise) {
-      inner = await this.inner;
-    } else {
-      inner = this.inner;
-    }
+    const inner = await this.getInner();
     for await (const batch of new RecordBatchIterable(inner, options)) {
       batches.push(batch);
     }
@@ -279,11 +280,8 @@ export class QueryBase<
    * @returns A Promise that resolves to a string containing the query execution plan explanation.
    */
   async explainPlan(verbose = false): Promise<string> {
-    if (this.inner instanceof Promise) {
-      return this.inner.then((inner) => inner.explainPlan(verbose));
-    } else {
-      return this.inner.explainPlan(verbose);
-    }
+    const inner = await this.getInner();
+    return inner.explainPlan(verbose);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -321,13 +319,8 @@ export class QueryBase<
     distributedMetrics?: AnalyzePlanDistributedMetrics,
   ): Promise<string> {
     const distributedMetricsMode = distributedMetrics ?? "aggregate";
-    if (this.inner instanceof Promise) {
-      return this.inner.then((inner) =>
-        inner.analyzePlan(distributedMetricsMode),
-      );
-    } else {
-      return this.inner.analyzePlan(distributedMetricsMode);
-    }
+    const inner = await this.getInner();
+    return inner.analyzePlan(distributedMetricsMode);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -339,12 +332,8 @@ export class QueryBase<
    * @returns An Arrow Schema describing the output columns.
    */
   async outputSchema(): Promise<import("./arrow").Schema> {
-    let schemaBuffer: Buffer;
-    if (this.inner instanceof Promise) {
-      schemaBuffer = await this.inner.then((inner) => inner.outputSchema());
-    } else {
-      schemaBuffer = await this.inner.outputSchema();
-    }
+    const inner = await this.getInner();
+    const schemaBuffer = await inner.outputSchema();
     const schema = tableFromIPC(schemaBuffer).schema;
     return schema;
   }
@@ -356,7 +345,7 @@ export class StandardQueryBase<
   extends QueryBase<NativeQueryType>
   implements ExecutableQuery
 {
-  constructor(inner: NativeQueryType | Promise<NativeQueryType>) {
+  constructor(inner?: NativeQueryType | Promise<NativeQueryType>) {
     super(inner);
   }
 
@@ -792,17 +781,44 @@ export class TakeQuery extends QueryBase<NativeTakeQuery> {
  * A builder for automatic string searches.
  *
  * Automatic search determines whether to use full-text or vector search from
- * the table revision selected for execution. This builder exposes the common
- * operations supported by both query families.
+ * the table revision selected for each execution. This builder exposes the
+ * common operations supported by both query families.
  *
  * @hideconstructor
  */
 export class AutoQuery extends StandardQueryBase<
   NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery
 > {
+  private readonly calls: Array<
+    (inner: NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery) => void
+  > = [];
+
   /** @hidden */
-  constructor(inner: Promise<NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery>) {
-    super(inner);
+  constructor(
+    private readonly createInner: () => Promise<
+      NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery
+    >,
+  ) {
+    super();
+  }
+
+  /** @hidden */
+  protected override doCall(
+    fn: (inner: NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery) => void,
+  ) {
+    this.calls.push(fn);
+  }
+
+  /** @hidden */
+  protected override async getInner(): Promise<
+    NativeQuery | NativeVectorQuery
+  > {
+    const calls = [...this.calls];
+    const inner = await this.createInner();
+    for (const call of calls) {
+      call(inner);
+    }
+    return inner;
   }
 }
 
@@ -822,14 +838,15 @@ export class Query extends StandardQueryBase<NativeQuery> {
 
   /** @hidden */
   static autoSearch(
-    tbl: Promise<NativeTable>,
+    tbl: () => Promise<NativeTable>,
     query: string,
     vector: (tbl: NativeTable) => Promise<Awaited<IntoVector> | undefined>,
     columns?: string[],
   ): AutoQuery {
-    const nativeQuery = Promise.resolve(tbl).then(async (tbl) => {
-      const resolved = await vector(tbl);
-      const inner = tbl.query();
+    const nativeQuery = async () => {
+      const snapshot = await Promise.resolve(tbl());
+      const resolved = await vector(snapshot);
+      const inner = snapshot.query();
       if (resolved === undefined) {
         inner.fullTextSearch({
           query,
@@ -845,7 +862,7 @@ export class Query extends StandardQueryBase<NativeQuery> {
         return inner.nearestToRaw(raw.data, raw.dtype);
       }
       return inner.nearestTo(Float32Array.from(resolved as number[]));
-    });
+    };
 
     return new AutoQuery(nativeQuery);
   }
diff --git a/nodejs/lancedb/table.ts b/nodejs/lancedb/table.ts
index 09f07bca6..233dadc64 100644
--- a/nodejs/lancedb/table.ts
+++ b/nodejs/lancedb/table.ts
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@ export class LocalTable extends Table {
       const columns =
         typeof ftsColumns === "string" ? [ftsColumns] : ftsColumns;
       return Query.autoSearch(
-        this.inner.checkoutCurrent(),
+        () => this.inner.checkoutCurrent(),
         query,
         vector,
         columns,
diff --git a/rust/lancedb/src/remote/table.rs b/rust/lancedb/src/remote/table.rs
index edc42b412..095a1c3ea 100644
--- a/rust/lancedb/src/remote/table.rs
+++ b/rust/lancedb/src/remote/table.rs
@@ -1683,9 +1683,17 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> BaseTable for RemoteTable<S> {
     }
 
     async fn checkout_current(&self) -> Result<Arc<dyn BaseTable>> {
-        let version = self.version().await?;
+        let description = self.describe().await?;
+        let TableDescription {
+            version,
+            schema,
+            location,
+        } = description;
+        let schema = Arc::new(arrow_schema::Schema::try_from(schema)?);
         let snapshot = self.with_branch(self.branch.clone());
-        snapshot.checkout(version).await?;
+        *snapshot.version.write().await = Some(version);
+        *snapshot.location.write().await = location;
+        snapshot.schema_cache.seed(schema);
         Ok(Arc::new(snapshot))
     }
 
@@ -7234,6 +7242,28 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// A pinned snapshot should reuse the version and schema returned by its
+    /// initial describe instead of issuing two more describe requests.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_checkout_current_seeds_schema_from_single_describe() {
+        let describe_calls = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let calls = describe_calls.clone();
+        let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", move |request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/table/my_table/describe/");
+            calls.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(
+                    r#"{"version":42,"schema":{"fields":[{"name":"a","type":{"type":"int32"},"nullable":false}]}}"#,
+                )
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+
+        let snapshot = table.checkout_current().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(snapshot.schema().await.unwrap().fields().len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(describe_calls.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
+    }
+
     /// Test that schema cache is invalidated after checkout
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_schema_cache_invalidation_on_checkout() {
diff --git a/rust/lancedb/src/table/query.rs b/rust/lancedb/src/table/query.rs
index 9feb9d5ab..2619735da 100644
--- a/rust/lancedb/src/table/query.rs
+++ b/rust/lancedb/src/table/query.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ async fn can_execute_namespace_query(table: &NativeTable, query: &AnyQuery) -> R
         .contains(&NamespaceClientPushdownOperation::QueryTable)
         && table.namespace_client.is_some()
         && table.dataset.current_branch().is_none()
+        // QueryTableRequest cannot carry a pinned dataset version. Pushing a
+        // time-travel query down would silently execute against latest.
+        && table.dataset.time_travel_version().is_none()
         && !requires_local_namespace_execution(query))
     {
         return Ok(false);
@@ -694,6 +697,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     use super::*;
     use crate::query::{QueryExecutionOptions, QueryRequest};
+    use crate::table::BaseTable;
 
     fn fixed_size_list_array(values: Vec<f32>, dimension: i32) -> FixedSizeListArray {
         FixedSizeListArray::try_new_from_values(Float32Array::from(values), dimension).unwrap()
@@ -886,10 +890,56 @@ mod tests {
 
         async fn query_table(&self, _request: NsQueryTableRequest) -> lance::Result<bytes::Bytes> {
             self.query_table_calls.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
-            panic!("approx_mode queries must not be pushed down to namespace query_table");
+            panic!("query must not be pushed down to namespace query_table");
         }
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_query_pinned_snapshot_with_namespace_pushdown_runs_locally() {
+        use crate::connect;
+        use arrow_array::{Int32Array, RecordBatch};
+        use arrow_schema::{DataType, Field, Schema};
+
+        let conn = connect("memory://").execute().await.unwrap();
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("id", DataType::Int32, false)]));
+        let batch = RecordBatch::try_new(
+            schema,
+            vec![Arc::new(Int32Array::from(vec![1, 2, 3, 4, 5]))],
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let table = conn
+            .create_table("test_pinned_namespace_fallback", vec![batch])
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let namespace_client = Arc::new(CountingNamespaceClient::default());
+        let mut native_table = table.as_native().unwrap().clone();
+        native_table.namespace_client = Some(namespace_client.clone());
+        native_table
+            .pushdown_operations
+            .insert(NamespaceClientPushdownOperation::QueryTable);
+
+        let snapshot = native_table.checkout_current().await.unwrap();
+        let snapshot = snapshot.as_any().downcast_ref::<NativeTable>().unwrap();
+        assert!(snapshot.dataset.time_travel_version().is_some());
+
+        let query = AnyQuery::Query(QueryRequest {
+            filter: Some(QueryFilter::Sql("id > 3".to_string())),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+        let stream = execute_query(snapshot, &query, QueryExecutionOptions::default())
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batches = stream.try_collect::<Vec<_>>().await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            batches.iter().map(|batch| batch.num_rows()).sum::<usize>(),
+            2
+        );
+        assert_eq!(namespace_client.query_table_calls.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 0);
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_execute_query_approx_mode_with_namespace_pushdown_runs_locally() {
         use crate::connect;