diff --git a/reme/steps/index/reindex.py b/reme/steps/index/reindex.py
index 6ba44655..82a569f3 100644
--- a/reme/steps/index/reindex.py
+++ b/reme/steps/index/reindex.py
@@ -4,6 +4,16 @@ from ..base_step import BaseStep
 from ...components import R
 
 
+def _render_reindex(details: dict) -> str:
+    """Render the store's reindex report as one readable summary line."""
+    scope = str(details.get("scope") or "all")
+    counts = ", ".join(
+        f"{name}={entry.get('indexed', 0)}" for name, entry in details.items() if isinstance(entry, dict)
+    )
+    summary = counts or f"{details.get('indexed', 0)} indexed"
+    return f"Reindexed scope={scope}: {summary}"
+
+
 @R.register("reindex_step")
 class ReindexStep(BaseStep):
     """Rebuild BM25, embeddings, and/or tags without scanning workspace files."""
@@ -13,7 +23,7 @@ class ReindexStep(BaseStep):
         scope = str(self.context.get("scope", "all"))
         details = await self.file_store.reindex(scope)
 
-        self.context.response.answer = details
+        self.context.response.answer = _render_reindex(details)
         self.context.response.metadata.update(details)
         self.context.response.metadata["scope"] = scope
         return self.context.response
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_reindex.py b/tests/unit/test_reindex.py
index 64bd1a43..b29b9e8f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_reindex.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_reindex.py
@@ -23,17 +23,18 @@ async def test_reindex_step_delegates_scope(scope):
     store.reindex.assert_awaited_once_with(scope)
     store.clear.assert_not_called()
     assert response.metadata == {"indexed": 3, "scope": scope}
+    assert response.answer == f"Reindexed scope={scope}: 3 indexed"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_reindex_step_delegates_all_once():
-    """The step delegates the composite scope exactly once."""
+    """The step delegates the composite scope once; the answer summarizes it."""
     store = LocalFileStore(name="test_reindex_all", embedding_store="")
     details = {
         "scope": "all",
-        "bm25": {"scope": "bm25", "indexed": 3},
-        "embedding": {"scope": "embedding", "indexed": 3},
-        "tag": {"scope": "tag", "indexed": 3},
+        "bm25": {"scope": "bm25", "indexed": 7},
+        "embedding": {"scope": "embedding", "indexed": 5},
+        "tag": {"scope": "tag", "indexed": 2},
     }
     store.reindex = AsyncMock(return_value=details)
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ async def test_reindex_step_delegates_all_once():
 
     store.reindex.assert_awaited_once_with("all")
     assert response.metadata == details
+    assert response.answer == "Reindexed scope=all: bm25=7, embedding=5, tag=2"
 
 
 def test_reindex_job_schema_exposes_tag_scope():