diff --git a/iris-mpc-common/src/config/mod.rs b/iris-mpc-common/src/config/mod.rs
index f2453ebbc..5a881f5fe 100644
--- a/iris-mpc-common/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc-common/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -229,6 +229,9 @@ pub struct Config {
     #[serde(default)]
     pub hawk_prf_key: Option<u64>,
 
+    #[serde(default = "default_hawk_numa")]
+    pub hawk_numa: bool,
+
     #[serde(default = "default_max_deletions_per_batch")]
     pub max_deletions_per_batch: usize,
 
@@ -399,6 +402,10 @@ fn default_hnsw_param_ef_search() -> usize {
     256
 }
 
+fn default_hawk_numa() -> bool {
+    true
+}
+
 fn default_service_ports() -> Vec<String> {
     vec!["4000".to_string(); 3]
 }
@@ -762,6 +769,7 @@ impl From<Config> for CommonConfig {
             hnsw_param_M,
             hnsw_param_ef_search,
             hawk_prf_key,
+            hawk_numa: _, // could be different for each server
             max_deletions_per_batch,
             enable_modifications_sync,
             enable_modifications_replay,
diff --git a/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main.rs b/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main.rs
index b5cd79fd7..2ee021c03 100644
--- a/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use crate::{
 };
 use clap::Parser;
 use eyre::{eyre, Report, Result};
-use futures::try_join;
+use futures::{future::try_join_all, try_join};
 use intra_batch::intra_batch_is_match;
 use iris_mpc_common::job::Eye;
 use iris_mpc_common::{
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ pub struct HawkArgs {
 
     #[clap(flatten)]
     pub tls: Option<TlsConfig>,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value_t = false)]
+    pub numa: bool,
 }
 
 /// HawkActor manages the state of the HNSW database and connections to other
@@ -326,8 +329,8 @@ impl HawkActor {
             build_network_handle(args, &identities, SessionGroups::N_SESSIONS_PER_REQUEST).await?;
         let graph_store = graph.map(GraphMem::to_arc);
         let iris_store = iris_store.map(SharedIrises::to_arc);
-        let workers_handle =
-            [LEFT, RIGHT].map(|side| iris_worker::init_workers(side, iris_store[side].clone()));
+        let workers_handle = [LEFT, RIGHT]
+            .map(|side| iris_worker::init_workers(side, iris_store[side].clone(), args.numa));
 
         let bucket_statistics_left = BucketStatistics::new(
             args.match_distances_buffer_size,
@@ -625,10 +628,7 @@ impl HawkActor {
             IrisLoader {
                 party_id: self.party_id,
                 db_size: &mut self.loader_db_size,
-                irises: [
-                    self.iris_store[0].write().await,
-                    self.iris_store[1].write().await,
-                ],
+                iris_pools: self.workers_handle.clone(),
             },
             GraphLoader([
                 self.graph_store[0].write().await,
@@ -650,7 +650,17 @@ pub type Aby3SharedIrisesMut<'a> = RwLockWriteGuard<'a, Aby3SharedIrises>;
 pub struct IrisLoader<'a> {
     party_id: usize,
     db_size: &'a mut usize,
-    irises: BothEyes<Aby3SharedIrisesMut<'a>>,
+    iris_pools: BothEyes<IrisPoolHandle>,
+}
+
+impl IrisLoader<'_> {
+    pub async fn wait_completion(self) -> Result<()> {
+        try_join!(
+            self.iris_pools[LEFT].wait_completion(),
+            self.iris_pools[RIGHT].wait_completion(),
+        )?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 #[allow(clippy::needless_lifetimes)]
@@ -664,14 +674,14 @@ impl<'a> InMemoryStore for IrisLoader<'a> {
         right_code: &[u16],
         right_mask: &[u16],
     ) {
-        for (side, code, mask) in izip!(
-            &mut self.irises,
+        for (pool, code, mask) in izip!(
+            &self.iris_pools,
             [left_code, right_code],
             [left_mask, right_mask]
         ) {
             let iris = GaloisRingSharedIris::try_from_buffers(self.party_id, code, mask)
                 .expect("Wrong code or mask size");
-            side.insert(vector_id, iris);
+            pool.insert(vector_id, iris).unwrap();
         }
     }
 
@@ -680,8 +690,8 @@ impl<'a> InMemoryStore for IrisLoader<'a> {
     }
 
     fn reserve(&mut self, additional: usize) {
-        for side in &mut self.irises {
-            side.reserve(additional);
+        for side in &self.iris_pools {
+            side.reserve(additional).unwrap();
         }
     }
 
@@ -692,9 +702,10 @@ impl<'a> InMemoryStore for IrisLoader<'a> {
     fn fake_db(&mut self, size: usize) {
         *self.db_size = size;
         let iris = Arc::new(GaloisRingSharedIris::default_for_party(self.party_id));
-        for side in &mut self.irises {
+        for side in &self.iris_pools {
             for i in 0..size {
-                side.insert(VectorId::from_serial_id(i as u32), iris.clone());
+                side.insert(VectorId::from_serial_id(i as u32), iris.clone())
+                    .unwrap();
             }
         }
     }
@@ -845,6 +856,70 @@ impl From<BatchQuery> for HawkRequest {
 }
 
 impl HawkRequest {
+    async fn numa_realloc(self, workers: BothEyes<IrisPoolHandle>) -> Self {
+        // TODO: Result<Self>
+        let start = Instant::now();
+
+        let (queries, queries_mirror) = join!(
+            Self::numa_realloc_orient(self.queries, &workers),
+            Self::numa_realloc_orient(self.queries_mirror, &workers)
+        );
+
+        metrics::histogram!("numa_realloc_duration").record(start.elapsed().as_secs_f64());
+        Self {
+            batch: self.batch,
+            queries,
+            queries_mirror,
+            ids: self.ids,
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn numa_realloc_orient(
+        queries: SearchQueries,
+        workers: &BothEyes<IrisPoolHandle>,
+    ) -> SearchQueries {
+        let (left, right) = join!(
+            Self::numa_realloc_side(&queries[LEFT], &workers[LEFT]),
+            Self::numa_realloc_side(&queries[RIGHT], &workers[RIGHT])
+        );
+        Arc::new([left, right])
+    }
+
+    async fn numa_realloc_side(
+        requests: &VecRequests<VecRots<Aby3Query>>,
+        worker: &IrisPoolHandle,
+    ) -> VecRequests<VecRots<Aby3Query>> {
+        // Iterate over all the irises.
+        let all_irises_iter = requests.iter().flat_map(|rots| {
+            rots.iter()
+                .flat_map(|query| [&query.iris, &query.iris_proc])
+        });
+
+        // Go realloc the irises in parallel.
+        let tasks = all_irises_iter.map(|iris| worker.numa_realloc(iris.clone()).unwrap());
+
+        // Iterate over the results in the same order.
+        let mut new_irises_iter = try_join_all(tasks).await.unwrap().into_iter();
+
+        // Rebuild the same structure with the new irises.
+        let new_requests = requests
+            .iter()
+            .map(|rots| {
+                rots.iter()
+                    .map(|_old_query| {
+                        let iris = new_irises_iter.next().unwrap();
+                        let iris_proc = new_irises_iter.next().unwrap();
+                        Aby3Query { iris, iris_proc }
+                    })
+                    .collect_vec()
+                    .into()
+            })
+            .collect_vec();
+
+        assert!(new_irises_iter.next().is_none());
+        new_requests
+    }
+
     fn request_types(
         &self,
         iris_store: &Aby3SharedIrises,
@@ -1313,6 +1388,10 @@ impl HawkHandle {
         tracing::info!("Processing an Hawk job…");
         let now = Instant::now();
 
+        let request = request
+            .numa_realloc(hawk_actor.workers_handle.clone())
+            .await;
+
         // Deletions.
         apply_deletions(hawk_actor, &request).await?;
 
@@ -1951,6 +2030,7 @@ mod tests_db {
             hnsw_param_M: 256,
             hnsw_param_ef_search: 256,
             hnsw_prf_key: None,
+            numa: true,
             match_distances_buffer_size: 64,
             n_buckets: 10,
             disable_persistence: false,
diff --git a/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main/iris_worker.rs b/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main/iris_worker.rs
index ef68bafa5..40df53a81 100644
--- a/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main/iris_worker.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc-cpu/src/execution/hawk_main/iris_worker.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use crate::{
 use core_affinity::CoreId;
 use crossbeam::channel::{Receiver, Sender};
 use eyre::Result;
+use futures::future::try_join_all;
 use iris_mpc_common::{fast_metrics::FastHistogram, vector_id::VectorId};
 use std::{
     cmp,
@@ -23,6 +24,21 @@ use tracing::info;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 enum IrisTask {
+    Sync {
+        rsp: oneshot::Sender<()>,
+    },
+    /// Move an iris code to memory closer to the pool (NUMA-awareness).
+    Realloc {
+        iris: ArcIris,
+        rsp: oneshot::Sender<ArcIris>,
+    },
+    Insert {
+        vector_id: VectorId,
+        iris: ArcIris,
+    },
+    Reserve {
+        additional: usize,
+    },
     DotProductPairs {
         pairs: Vec<(ArcIris, VectorId)>,
         rsp: oneshot::Sender<Vec<RingElement<u16>>>,
@@ -40,12 +56,41 @@ enum IrisTask {
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct IrisPoolHandle {
-    workers: Arc<Vec<Sender<IrisTask>>>,
+    workers: Arc<[Sender<IrisTask>]>,
     next_counter: Arc<AtomicU64>,
     metric_latency: FastHistogram,
 }
 
 impl IrisPoolHandle {
+    pub fn numa_realloc(&self, iris: ArcIris) -> Result<oneshot::Receiver<ArcIris>> {
+        let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        let task = IrisTask::Realloc { iris, rsp: tx };
+        self.get_next_worker().send(task)?;
+        Ok(rx)
+    }
+
+    pub async fn wait_completion(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        try_join_all(self.workers.iter().map(|w| {
+            let (rsp, rx) = oneshot::channel();
+            w.send(IrisTask::Sync { rsp }).unwrap();
+            rx
+        }))
+        .await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn insert(&self, vector_id: VectorId, iris: ArcIris) -> Result<()> {
+        let task = IrisTask::Insert { vector_id, iris };
+        self.get_mut_worker().send(task)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn reserve(&self, additional: usize) -> Result<()> {
+        let task = IrisTask::Reserve { additional };
+        self.get_mut_worker().send(task)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub async fn dot_product_pairs(
         &mut self,
         pairs: Vec<(ArcIris, VectorId)>,
@@ -85,7 +130,7 @@ impl IrisPoolHandle {
     ) -> Result<Vec<RingElement<u16>>> {
         let start = Instant::now();
 
-        let _ = self.get_next_worker().send(task);
+        self.get_next_worker().send(task)?;
         let res = rx.await?;
 
         self.metric_latency.record(start.elapsed().as_secs_f64());
@@ -98,9 +143,18 @@ impl IrisPoolHandle {
         let idx = idx % self.workers.len();
         &self.workers[idx]
     }
+
+    /// Get the worker responsible for store mutations.
+    fn get_mut_worker(&self) -> &Sender<IrisTask> {
+        &self.workers[0]
+    }
 }
 
-pub fn init_workers(shard_index: usize, iris_store: SharedIrisesRef<ArcIris>) -> IrisPoolHandle {
+pub fn init_workers(
+    shard_index: usize,
+    iris_store: SharedIrisesRef<ArcIris>,
+    numa: bool,
+) -> IrisPoolHandle {
     let core_ids = select_core_ids(shard_index);
     info!(
         "Dot product shard {} running on {} cores ({:?})",
@@ -116,20 +170,51 @@ pub fn init_workers(shard_index: usize, iris_store: SharedIrisesRef<ArcIris>) ->
         let iris_store = iris_store.clone();
         std::thread::spawn(move || {
             let _ = core_affinity::set_for_current(core_id);
-            worker_thread(rx, iris_store);
+            worker_thread(rx, iris_store, numa);
         });
     }
 
     IrisPoolHandle {
-        workers: Arc::new(channels),
+        workers: channels.into(),
         next_counter: Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(0)),
         metric_latency: FastHistogram::new("iris_worker.latency"),
     }
 }
 
-fn worker_thread(ch: Receiver<IrisTask>, iris_store: SharedIrisesRef<ArcIris>) {
+fn worker_thread(ch: Receiver<IrisTask>, iris_store: SharedIrisesRef<ArcIris>, numa: bool) {
     while let Ok(task) = ch.recv() {
         match task {
+            IrisTask::Realloc { iris, rsp } => {
+                // Re-allocate from this thread.
+                // This attempts to use the NUMA-aware first-touch policy of the OS.
+                let new_iris = if numa {
+                    Arc::new((*iris).clone())
+                } else {
+                    iris
+                };
+                let _ = rsp.send(new_iris);
+            }
+
+            IrisTask::Sync { rsp } => {
+                let _ = rsp.send(());
+            }
+
+            IrisTask::Insert { vector_id, iris } => {
+                let iris = if numa {
+                    Arc::new((*iris).clone())
+                } else {
+                    iris
+                };
+
+                let mut store = iris_store.data.blocking_write();
+                store.insert(vector_id, iris);
+            }
+
+            IrisTask::Reserve { additional } => {
+                let mut store = iris_store.data.blocking_write();
+                store.reserve(additional);
+            }
+
             IrisTask::DotProductPairs { pairs, rsp } => {
                 let store = iris_store.data.blocking_read();
 
@@ -167,7 +252,8 @@ fn worker_thread(ch: Receiver<IrisTask>, iris_store: SharedIrisesRef<ArcIris>) {
 const SHARD_COUNT: usize = 2;
 
 pub fn select_core_ids(shard_index: usize) -> Vec<CoreId> {
-    let core_ids = core_affinity::get_core_ids().unwrap();
+    let mut core_ids = core_affinity::get_core_ids().unwrap();
+    core_ids.sort();
     assert!(!core_ids.is_empty());
 
     let shard_count = cmp::min(SHARD_COUNT, core_ids.len());
diff --git a/iris-mpc-cpu/src/hawkers/aby3/test_utils.rs b/iris-mpc-cpu/src/hawkers/aby3/test_utils.rs
index b5b9f622d..d92f7d543 100644
--- a/iris-mpc-cpu/src/hawkers/aby3/test_utils.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc-cpu/src/hawkers/aby3/test_utils.rs
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ pub async fn setup_local_aby3_players_with_preloaded_db<R: RngCore + CryptoRng>(
         .into_iter()
         .zip(storages.into_iter())
         .map(|(session, storage)| {
-            let workers = iris_worker::init_workers(0, storage.clone());
+            let workers = iris_worker::init_workers(0, storage.clone(), true);
             Ok(Arc::new(Mutex::new(Aby3Store {
                 session,
                 storage,
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ pub async fn setup_local_store_aby3_players(network_t: NetworkType) -> Result<Ve
         .into_iter()
         .map(|session| {
             let storage = Aby3Store::new_storage(None).to_arc();
-            let workers = iris_worker::init_workers(0, storage.clone());
+            let workers = iris_worker::init_workers(0, storage.clone(), true);
 
             Ok(Arc::new(Mutex::new(Aby3Store {
                 session,
diff --git a/iris-mpc-cpu/tests/e2e.rs b/iris-mpc-cpu/tests/e2e.rs
index 81d75fed4..fb59f540e 100644
--- a/iris-mpc-cpu/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc-cpu/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ async fn e2e_test() -> Result<()> {
         match_distances_buffer_size: 64,
         n_buckets: 10,
         tls: None,
+        numa: true,
     };
     let args1 = HawkArgs {
         party_index: 1,
diff --git a/iris-mpc-upgrade-hawk/src/genesis/mod.rs b/iris-mpc-upgrade-hawk/src/genesis/mod.rs
index 2dd2f083d..40df7b896 100644
--- a/iris-mpc-upgrade-hawk/src/genesis/mod.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc-upgrade-hawk/src/genesis/mod.rs
@@ -888,6 +888,7 @@ async fn get_hawk_actor(config: &Config) -> Result<HawkActor> {
         match_distances_buffer_size: config.match_distances_buffer_size,
         n_buckets: config.n_buckets,
         tls: config.tls.clone(),
+        numa: config.hawk_numa,
     };
 
     log_info(format!(
@@ -1245,6 +1246,8 @@ async fn init_graph_from_stores(
     .await
     .expect("Failed to load DB");
 
+    iris_loader.wait_completion().await?;
+
     graph_loader
         .load_graph_store(&graph_store, graph_db_parallelism)
         .await?;
diff --git a/iris-mpc/src/server/mod.rs b/iris-mpc/src/server/mod.rs
index db309e37b..2c6bd51b7 100644
--- a/iris-mpc/src/server/mod.rs
+++ b/iris-mpc/src/server/mod.rs
@@ -413,6 +413,7 @@ async fn init_hawk_actor(config: &Config) -> Result<HawkActor> {
         match_distances_buffer_size: config.match_distances_buffer_size,
         n_buckets: config.n_buckets,
         tls: config.tls.clone(),
+        numa: config.hawk_numa,
     };
 
     tracing::info!(
@@ -439,6 +440,7 @@ async fn load_database(
     // TODO: not needed?
     if config.fake_db_size > 0 {
         iris_loader.fake_db(config.fake_db_size);
+        iris_loader.wait_completion().await?;
         return Ok(());
     }
 
@@ -457,14 +459,20 @@ async fn load_database(
     let store_len = iris_store.count_irises().await?;
 
     let now = Instant::now();
-    let iris_load_future = load_iris_db(
-        &mut iris_loader,
-        iris_store,
-        store_len,
-        parallelism,
-        config,
-        download_shutdown_handler,
-    );
+
+    let iris_load_future = async move {
+        load_iris_db(
+            &mut iris_loader,
+            iris_store,
+            store_len,
+            parallelism,
+            config,
+            download_shutdown_handler,
+        )
+        .await?;
+        iris_loader.wait_completion().await?;
+        eyre::Result::<()>::Ok(())
+    };
 
     let graph_load_future = graph_loader.load_graph_store(
         graph_store,