diff --git a/grove-core.el b/grove-core.el
index f29b71d..4e1fe35 100644
--- a/grove-core.el
+++ b/grove-core.el
@@ -178,11 +178,21 @@ Returns (:title TITLE :tags TAGS :links LINKS :mtime MTIME)."
           :links (nreverse links)
           :mtime mtime)))
 
+(defun grove--cacheable-note-p (file)
+  "Return non-nil when FILE should be included in the note cache."
+  (let ((name (file-name-nondirectory file)))
+    (and (string-suffix-p ".org" name)
+         (not (string-prefix-p ".#" name))
+         (not (and (string-prefix-p "#" name)
+                   (string-suffix-p "#" name)))
+         (not (string-suffix-p "~" name)))))
+
 (defun grove--refresh-cache ()
   "Refresh the vault cache by scanning `grove-directory'.
 Only re-parses files whose mtime has changed."
   (grove--ensure-directory)
-  (let ((files (directory-files-recursively grove-directory "\\.org\\'"))
+  (let ((files (seq-filter #'grove--cacheable-note-p
+                           (directory-files-recursively grove-directory "\\.org\\'")))
         (seen (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))
     ;; Update or add entries
     (dolist (file files)
diff --git a/tests/grove-review-test.el b/tests/grove-review-test.el
index d388225..35da819 100644
--- a/tests/grove-review-test.el
+++ b/tests/grove-review-test.el
@@ -35,6 +35,46 @@
                        '("Project: Alpha")))
       (delete-file file))))
 
+(ert-deftest grove-refresh-cache-ignores-emacs-lockfiles ()
+  (let* ((grove-directory (make-temp-file "grove-vault" t))
+         (note (expand-file-name "test-2.org" grove-directory))
+         (lockfile (expand-file-name ".#test-2.org" grove-directory))
+         (grove--cache (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (with-temp-file note
+            (insert "#+title: Real note\n"))
+          ;; Emacs lockfiles are symlinks whose names can still match the
+          ;; recursive .org scan, they should never be parsed as notes.
+          (make-symbolic-link note lockfile)
+          (delete-file note)
+          (grove--refresh-cache)
+          (should-not (gethash lockfile grove--cache))
+          (should (= (hash-table-count grove--cache) 0)))
+      (delete-directory grove-directory t))))
+
+(ert-deftest grove-refresh-cache-ignores-emacs-autosave-and-backup-files ()
+  (let* ((grove-directory (make-temp-file "grove-vault" t))
+         (autosave (expand-file-name "#draft.org#" grove-directory))
+         (backup (expand-file-name "draft.org~" grove-directory))
+         (note (expand-file-name "draft.org" grove-directory))
+         (grove--cache (make-hash-table :test #'equal)))
+    (unwind-protect
+        (progn
+          (with-temp-file autosave
+            (insert "#+title: Autosave\n"))
+          (with-temp-file backup
+            (insert "#+title: Backup\n"))
+          (with-temp-file note
+            (insert "#+title: Real draft\n"))
+          (grove--refresh-cache)
+          (should-not (gethash autosave grove--cache))
+          (should-not (gethash backup grove--cache))
+          (should (= (hash-table-count grove--cache) 1))
+          (should (equal (plist-get (gethash note grove--cache) :title)
+                         "Real draft")))
+      (delete-directory grove-directory t))))
+
 (ert-deftest grove-link-fontify-allows-colons-in-note-titles ()
   (with-temp-buffer
     (insert "[[Project: Alpha]] [[https://example.com]]")