diff --git a/docs/cli.md b/docs/cli.md
index cc543d08..29304493 100644
--- a/docs/cli.md
+++ b/docs/cli.md
@@ -111,9 +111,6 @@ haiku-rag serve
 
 # stdio transport
 haiku-rag serve --stdio
-
-# SSE transport
-haiku-rag serve --sse
 ```
 
 ## Settings
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index f0bf8c93..ec2d02c9 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ The MCP server exposes `haiku.rag` as MCP tools for compatible MCP clients.
 
 ## Starting MCP Server
 
-The MCP server starts automatically with the serve command and supports Streamable HTTP, stdio and SSE transports:
+The MCP server starts automatically with the serve command and supports Streamable HTTP and stdio transports:
 
 ```bash
 # Default streamable HTTP transport
@@ -27,7 +27,4 @@ haiku-rag serve
 
 # stdio transport (for Claude Desktop)
 haiku-rag serve --stdio
-
-# SSE transport
-haiku-rag serve --sse
 ```
diff --git a/docs/server.md b/docs/server.md
index afd8a836..15f862b1 100644
--- a/docs/server.md
+++ b/docs/server.md
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ haiku-rag serve
 Transport options:
 - Default - Streamable HTTP transport
 - `--stdio` - Standard input/output transport
-- `--sse` - Server-sent events transport
 
 ## File Monitoring
 
diff --git a/src/haiku/rag/app.py b/src/haiku/rag/app.py
index d0948ea4..c41d6267 100644
--- a/src/haiku/rag/app.py
+++ b/src/haiku/rag/app.py
@@ -289,8 +289,6 @@ class HaikuRAGApp:
             try:
                 if transport == "stdio":
                     await server.run_stdio_async()
-                elif transport == "sse":
-                    await server.run_sse_async()
                 else:
                     await server.run_http_async(transport="streamable-http")
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
diff --git a/src/haiku/rag/cli.py b/src/haiku/rag/cli.py
index 45814204..4fc5b144 100644
--- a/src/haiku/rag/cli.py
+++ b/src/haiku/rag/cli.py
@@ -3,28 +3,16 @@ import warnings
 from importlib.metadata import version
 from pathlib import Path
 
-import logfire
 import typer
-from rich.console import Console
 
-from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
 from haiku.rag.config import Config
 from haiku.rag.logging import configure_cli_logging
-from haiku.rag.migration import migrate_sqlite_to_lancedb
 from haiku.rag.utils import is_up_to_date
 
-if Config.ENV == "development":
-    logfire.configure(send_to_logfire="if-token-present")
-    logfire.instrument_pydantic_ai()
-else:
-    warnings.filterwarnings("ignore")
-
 cli = typer.Typer(
     context_settings={"help_option_names": ["-h", "--help"]}, no_args_is_help=True
 )
 
-console = Console()
-
 
 def complete_document_ids(ctx: typer.Context, incomplete: str):
     """Autocomplete document IDs from the selected DB."""
@@ -89,16 +77,16 @@ async def check_version():
     """Check if haiku.rag is up to date and show warning if not."""
     up_to_date, current_version, latest_version = await is_up_to_date()
     if not up_to_date:
-        console.print(
-            f"[yellow]Warning: haiku.rag is outdated. Current: {current_version}, Latest: {latest_version}[/yellow]"
+        typer.echo(
+            f"Warning: haiku.rag is outdated. Current: {current_version}, Latest: {latest_version}",
         )
-        console.print("[yellow]Please update.[/yellow]")
+        typer.echo("Please update.")
 
 
 def version_callback(value: bool):
     if value:
         v = version("haiku.rag")
-        console.print(f"haiku.rag version {v}")
+        typer.echo(f"haiku.rag version {v}")
         raise typer.Exit()
 
 
@@ -113,10 +101,26 @@ def main(
     ),
 ):
     """haiku.rag CLI - Vector database RAG system"""
-    # Ensure only haiku.rag logs are emitted in CLI context
-    configure_cli_logging()
+    # Configure logging minimally for CLI context
+    if Config.ENV == "development":
+        # Lazy import logfire only in development
+        try:
+            import logfire  # type: ignore
+
+            logfire.configure(send_to_logfire="if-token-present")
+            logfire.instrument_pydantic_ai()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    else:
+        configure_cli_logging()
+        warnings.filterwarnings("ignore")
+
     # Run version check before any command
-    asyncio.run(check_version())
+    try:
+        asyncio.run(check_version())
+    except Exception:
+        # Do not block CLI on version check issues
+        pass
 
 
 @cli.command("list", help="List all stored documents")
@@ -127,6 +131,8 @@ def list_documents(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.list_documents())
 
@@ -142,6 +148,8 @@ def add_document_text(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.add_document_from_text(text=text))
 
@@ -158,6 +166,8 @@ def add_document_src(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.add_document_from_source(source=source))
 
@@ -174,6 +184,8 @@ def get_document(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.get_document(doc_id=doc_id))
 
@@ -190,6 +202,8 @@ def delete_document(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.delete_document(doc_id=doc_id))
 
@@ -215,6 +229,8 @@ def search(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.search(query=query, limit=limit))
 
@@ -235,6 +251,8 @@ def ask(
         help="Include citations in the response",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.ask(question=question, cite=cite))
 
@@ -271,6 +289,8 @@ def research(
         help="Show verbose progress output",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(
         app.research(
@@ -285,6 +305,8 @@ def research(
 
 @cli.command("settings", help="Display current configuration settings")
 def settings():
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=Path())  # Don't need actual DB for settings
     app.show_settings()
 
@@ -300,6 +322,8 @@ def rebuild(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.rebuild())
 
@@ -312,6 +336,8 @@ def vacuum(
         help="Path to the LanceDB database file",
     ),
 ):
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
+
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
     asyncio.run(app.vacuum())
 
@@ -330,24 +356,15 @@ def serve(
         "--stdio",
         help="Run MCP server on stdio Transport",
     ),
-    sse: bool = typer.Option(
-        False,
-        "--sse",
-        help="Run MCP server on SSE transport",
-    ),
 ) -> None:
     """Start the MCP server."""
-    if stdio and sse:
-        console.print("[red]Error: Cannot use both --stdio and --http options[/red]")
-        raise typer.Exit(1)
+    from haiku.rag.app import HaikuRAGApp
 
     app = HaikuRAGApp(db_path=db)
 
     transport = None
     if stdio:
         transport = "stdio"
-    elif sse:
-        transport = "sse"
 
     asyncio.run(app.serve(transport=transport))
 
@@ -361,6 +378,9 @@ def migrate(
     # Generate LanceDB path in same parent directory
     lancedb_path = sqlite_path.parent / (sqlite_path.stem + ".lancedb")
 
+    # Lazy import to avoid heavy deps on simple invocations
+    from haiku.rag.migration import migrate_sqlite_to_lancedb
+
     success = asyncio.run(migrate_sqlite_to_lancedb(sqlite_path, lancedb_path))
 
     if not success:
diff --git a/src/haiku/rag/utils.py b/src/haiku/rag/utils.py
index 334276b1..2373798e 100644
--- a/src/haiku/rag/utils.py
+++ b/src/haiku/rag/utils.py
@@ -9,10 +9,6 @@ from io import BytesIO
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import ModuleType
 
-import httpx
-from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter
-from docling_core.types.doc.document import DoclingDocument
-from docling_core.types.io import DocumentStream
 from packaging.version import Version, parse
 
 
@@ -82,6 +78,9 @@ async def is_up_to_date() -> tuple[bool, Version, Version]:
         the running version and the latest version.
     """
 
+    # Lazy import to avoid pulling httpx (and its deps) on module import
+    import httpx
+
     async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
         running_version = parse(metadata.version("haiku.rag"))
         try:
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ async def is_up_to_date() -> tuple[bool, Version, Version]:
     return running_version >= pypi_version, running_version, pypi_version
 
 
-def text_to_docling_document(text: str, name: str = "content.md") -> DoclingDocument:
+def text_to_docling_document(text: str, name: str = "content.md"):
     """Convert text content to a DoclingDocument.
 
     Args:
@@ -104,6 +103,10 @@ def text_to_docling_document(text: str, name: str = "content.md") -> DoclingDocu
     Returns:
         A DoclingDocument created from the text content.
     """
+    # Lazy import docling deps to keep import-time light
+    from docling.document_converter import DocumentConverter  # type: ignore
+    from docling_core.types.io import DocumentStream  # type: ignore
+
     bytes_io = BytesIO(text.encode("utf-8"))
     doc_stream = DocumentStream(name=name, stream=bytes_io)
     converter = DocumentConverter()
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index ec1aaada..5e7f80d1 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ async def test_search_no_results(app: HaikuRAGApp, monkeypatch):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("transport", ["stdio", "sse", "http", None])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("transport", ["stdio", "http", None])
 async def test_serve(app: HaikuRAGApp, monkeypatch, transport):
     """Test the serve method with different transports."""
     mock_server = AsyncMock()
@@ -199,8 +199,6 @@ async def test_serve(app: HaikuRAGApp, monkeypatch, transport):
 
     if transport == "stdio":
         mock_server.run_stdio_async.assert_called_once()
-    elif transport == "sse":
-        mock_server.run_sse_async.assert_called_once()
     else:
         mock_server.run_http_async.assert_called_once_with(transport="streamable-http")
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index d025a16b..d4e5a455 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ runner = CliRunner()
 
 
 def test_list_documents():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.list_documents = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def test_list_documents():
 
 
 def test_add_document_text():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.add_document_from_text = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def test_add_document_text():
 
 
 def test_add_document_src():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.add_document_from_source = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def test_add_document_src():
 
 
 def test_get_document():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.get_document = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def test_get_document():
 
 
 def test_delete_document():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.delete_document = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def test_delete_document():
 
 
 def test_search():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.search = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_search():
 
 
 def test_serve():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.serve = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def test_serve():
 
 
 def test_serve_stdio():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.serve = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -105,32 +105,8 @@ def test_serve_stdio():
         mock_app_instance.serve.assert_called_once_with(transport="stdio")
 
 
-def test_serve_sse():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
-        mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
-        mock_app_instance.serve = AsyncMock()
-        mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
-
-        result = runner.invoke(cli, ["serve", "--sse"])
-
-        assert result.exit_code == 0
-        mock_app_instance.serve.assert_called_once_with(transport="sse")
-
-
-def test_serve_stdio_and_sse():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
-        mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
-        mock_app_instance.serve = AsyncMock()
-        mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
-
-        result = runner.invoke(cli, ["serve", "--stdio", "--sse"])
-
-        assert result.exit_code == 1
-        assert "Error: Cannot use both --stdio and --http options" in result.stdout
-
-
 def test_ask():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.ask = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance
@@ -144,7 +120,7 @@ def test_ask():
 
 
 def test_ask_with_cite():
-    with patch("haiku.rag.cli.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
+    with patch("haiku.rag.app.HaikuRAGApp") as mock_app:
         mock_app_instance = MagicMock()
         mock_app_instance.ask = AsyncMock()
         mock_app.return_value = mock_app_instance