diff --git a/mempalace/closet_llm.py b/mempalace/closet_llm.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35ec6d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mempalace/closet_llm.py
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+"""
+closet_llm.py — Generate closets via a user-configured LLM for richer indexing.
+
+The regex-based closet extraction catches action verbs, headers, and proper
+nouns — but misses implicit topics, foreign-language content, and contextual
+references. An LLM reads everything and produces better closets.
+
+This module is **OPTIONAL and opt-in**. Regex closets are always created by
+the miner; this path regenerates them afterward using whatever LLM the user
+chooses. Core memory operations remain API-free by design (see CLAUDE.md,
+"Local-first, zero API").
+
+## Bring-your-own-LLM configuration
+
+The endpoint is any OpenAI-compatible Chat Completions URL:
+
+    LLM_ENDPOINT=http://localhost:11434/v1   # Ollama
+    LLM_ENDPOINT=http://localhost:8000/v1    # vLLM, llama.cpp
+    LLM_ENDPOINT=https://api.openai.com/v1
+    LLM_ENDPOINT=https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
+    LLM_ENDPOINT=https://api.anthropic.com/v1  # when proxied through a compat layer
+
+Set:
+    LLM_ENDPOINT — base URL (required)
+    LLM_KEY      — bearer token (optional; local inference usually doesn't need it)
+    LLM_MODEL    — model name (required), e.g. "gpt-4o-mini", "llama3:8b", "qwen2.5:7b"
+
+Or pass flags on the CLI (flags win over env):
+
+    python -m mempalace.closet_llm \\
+        --palace ~/.mempalace/palace \\
+        --endpoint http://localhost:11434/v1 \\
+        --model llama3:8b
+
+No vendor lock-in. No hidden dependency on any specific provider. Zero deps
+added to pyproject — uses stdlib urllib.
+"""
+
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import time
+import urllib.request
+import urllib.error
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Optional
+
+from .palace import get_collection, get_closets_collection, upsert_closet_lines
+
+MAX_CONTENT_CHARS = 30000
+MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS = 1500
+HTTP_TIMEOUT_S = 60
+
+PROMPT_TEMPLATE = """You are reading content filed in a memory palace. Generate a
+topic-dense index that will be used to find this content later when someone searches.
+
+Source: {source_file}
+Wing: {wing} | Room: {room}
+
+CONTENT:
+{content}
+
+---
+
+Output a JSON object with EXACTLY these fields:
+
+{{
+  "topics": ["distinctive_word_or_phrase_1", "topic_2", ...],
+  "quotes": ["[Speaker] verbatim quote", ...],
+  "summary": "2-3 sentences describing what this content is about."
+}}
+
+RULES:
+- Topics: 8-15 entries. Include proper nouns (names, places, projects),
+  distinctive technical terms, and key concepts. NOT generic words like
+  "conversation" or "discussion".
+- Quotes: 2-5 entries. EXACT verbatim from the content, not paraphrased.
+  Attribute with [Speaker] prefix if speaker is identifiable.
+- Summary: mention WHO, WHAT, and WHY. No filler.
+- Write in the same language as the content.
+- Output valid JSON only. No code fences. No commentary.
+"""
+
+
+class LLMConfig:
+    """Resolved LLM connection config. CLI flags > env vars."""
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        endpoint: Optional[str] = None,
+        key: Optional[str] = None,
+        model: Optional[str] = None,
+    ):
+        self.endpoint = (endpoint or os.environ.get("LLM_ENDPOINT", "")).rstrip("/")
+        self.key = key or os.environ.get("LLM_KEY", "")
+        self.model = model or os.environ.get("LLM_MODEL", "")
+
+    def missing(self) -> list:
+        missing = []
+        if not self.endpoint:
+            missing.append("LLM_ENDPOINT (or --endpoint)")
+        if not self.model:
+            missing.append("LLM_MODEL (or --model)")
+        # key is optional — local inference servers (Ollama, vLLM) often don't require one
+        return missing
+
+
+def _call_llm(cfg: LLMConfig, source_file: str, wing: str, room: str, content: str):
+    """Single LLM call via OpenAI-compatible /chat/completions.
+
+    Returns (parsed_json_dict_or_None, usage_dict_or_None).
+    """
+    try:
+        from mempalace.i18n import t
+
+        lang_instruction = t("aaak.instruction")
+    except Exception:
+        lang_instruction = ""
+
+    prompt = PROMPT_TEMPLATE.format(
+        source_file=source_file[:100],
+        wing=wing,
+        room=room,
+        content=content[:MAX_CONTENT_CHARS],
+    )
+    if lang_instruction and "english" not in lang_instruction.lower():
+        prompt += f"\n\nLanguage instruction: {lang_instruction}"
+
+    body = json.dumps(
+        {
+            "model": cfg.model,
+            "max_tokens": MAX_OUTPUT_TOKENS,
+            "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": prompt}],
+        }
+    ).encode("utf-8")
+
+    headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json"}
+    if cfg.key:
+        headers["Authorization"] = f"Bearer {cfg.key}"
+
+    url = f"{cfg.endpoint}/chat/completions"
+
+    for attempt in range(3):
+        try:
+            req = urllib.request.Request(url, data=body, headers=headers, method="POST")
+            with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=HTTP_TIMEOUT_S) as resp:
+                raw = resp.read().decode("utf-8")
+            payload = json.loads(raw)
+
+            text = payload["choices"][0]["message"]["content"].strip()
+            text = re.sub(r"^```(?:json)?\s*", "", text)
+            text = re.sub(r"\s*```$", "", text)
+            parsed = json.loads(text)
+            return parsed, payload.get("usage")
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            return None, None
+        except urllib.error.HTTPError as e:
+            # 429 / 503 = retry with backoff
+            if e.code in (429, 503) and attempt < 2:
+                time.sleep(2 ** attempt)
+                continue
+            return None, None
+        except Exception as e:
+            if "rate" in str(e).lower() and attempt < 2:
+                time.sleep(2 ** attempt)
+                continue
+            return None, None
+    return None, None
+
+
+def _parsed_to_closet_lines(parsed, drawer_ids, entities_str):
+    """Convert LLM's JSON output to closet pointer lines."""
+    lines = []
+    drawer_ref = ",".join(drawer_ids[:3])
+
+    for topic in parsed.get("topics", [])[:15]:
+        lines.append(f"{topic}|{entities_str}|→{drawer_ref}")
+    for quote in parsed.get("quotes", [])[:5]:
+        lines.append(f'{quote}|{entities_str}|→{drawer_ref}')
+    summary = parsed.get("summary", "")
+    if summary:
+        lines.append(f"{summary[:200]}|{entities_str}|→{drawer_ref}")
+
+    return lines
+
+
+def regenerate_closets(
+    palace_path,
+    wing=None,
+    sample=0,
+    dry_run=False,
+    cfg: Optional[LLMConfig] = None,
+):
+    """Regenerate closets using a configured LLM for richer topic extraction.
+
+    Reads existing drawers, sends content to the configured endpoint,
+    replaces regex closets with LLM-generated ones. Regex closets remain
+    as the fallback whenever the call fails.
+    """
+    if cfg is None:
+        cfg = LLMConfig()
+    missing = cfg.missing()
+    if missing:
+        print("Error: missing configuration: " + ", ".join(missing))
+        print("Set env vars LLM_ENDPOINT / LLM_MODEL (and optionally LLM_KEY),")
+        print("or pass --endpoint / --model / --key on the CLI.")
+        return {"error": "missing-config", "missing": missing}
+
+    drawers_col = get_collection(palace_path, create=False)
+    closets_col = get_closets_collection(palace_path)
+
+    total = drawers_col.count()
+    if total == 0:
+        print("No drawers in palace.")
+        return {"processed": 0}
+
+    all_data = drawers_col.get(limit=total, include=["documents", "metadatas"])
+    by_source = {}
+    for doc_id, doc, meta in zip(all_data["ids"], all_data["documents"], all_data["metadatas"]):
+        source = meta.get("source_file", "unknown")
+        w = meta.get("wing", "")
+        if wing and w != wing:
+            continue
+        if source not in by_source:
+            by_source[source] = {"drawer_ids": [], "content": [], "meta": meta}
+        by_source[source]["drawer_ids"].append(doc_id)
+        by_source[source]["content"].append(doc)
+
+    sources = list(by_source.keys())
+    if sample > 0:
+        sources = sources[:sample]
+
+    print(f"Regenerating closets for {len(sources)} source files via {cfg.endpoint} ({cfg.model})...")
+    if dry_run:
+        print("DRY RUN — no changes will be written")
+
+    processed = 0
+    failed = 0
+    total_input = 0
+    total_output = 0
+
+    for i, source in enumerate(sources, 1):
+        data = by_source[source]
+        content = "\n\n".join(data["content"])
+        meta = data["meta"]
+        w = meta.get("wing", "")
+        r = meta.get("room", "")
+        entities = meta.get("entities", "")
+
+        if dry_run:
+            print(f"  [{i}/{len(sources)}] {os.path.basename(source)} ({len(content)} chars)")
+            continue
+
+        parsed, usage = _call_llm(cfg, source, w, r, content)
+        if not parsed:
+            failed += 1
+            print(f"  [{i}/{len(sources)}] ✗ {os.path.basename(source)} — LLM failed")
+            continue
+
+        if usage:
+            total_input += usage.get("prompt_tokens", 0)
+            total_output += usage.get("completion_tokens", 0)
+
+        lines = _parsed_to_closet_lines(parsed, data["drawer_ids"], entities)
+        closet_id_base = f"closet_{w}_{r}_{source.split('/')[-1][:30]}"
+
+        # Delete old regex closets for this source before writing LLM ones
+        try:
+            old_ids = closets_col.get(
+                where={"source_file": source}, include=[]
+            ).get("ids", [])
+            if old_ids:
+                closets_col.delete(ids=old_ids)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+        upsert_closet_lines(
+            closets_col,
+            closet_id_base,
+            lines,
+            {
+                "wing": w,
+                "room": r,
+                "source_file": source,
+                "generated_by": f"llm:{cfg.model}",
+                "filed_at": datetime.now().isoformat(),
+                "entities": entities,
+            },
+        )
+
+        processed += 1
+        n_topics = len(parsed.get("topics", []))
+        print(f"  [{i}/{len(sources)}] ✓ {os.path.basename(source)} — {n_topics} topics")
+
+    print(f"\nDone. {processed} regenerated, {failed} failed.")
+    if total_input or total_output:
+        print(f"Tokens: {total_input:,} in + {total_output:,} out (cost depends on provider)")
+
+    return {
+        "processed": processed,
+        "failed": failed,
+        "input_tokens": total_input,
+        "output_tokens": total_output,
+    }
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import argparse
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Regenerate closets via a user-configured LLM (OpenAI-compatible API)"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--palace",
+        default=os.path.expanduser("~/.mempalace/palace"),
+        help="Path to the palace",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument("--wing", default=None, help="Limit to one wing")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--sample", type=int, default=0, help="Only process first N source files"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--dry-run", action="store_true", help="List work without calling the LLM"
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--endpoint",
+        default=None,
+        help="LLM base URL (overrides $LLM_ENDPOINT), e.g. http://localhost:11434/v1",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--key",
+        default=None,
+        help="LLM bearer token (overrides $LLM_KEY). Optional for local inference.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--model",
+        default=None,
+        help='LLM model name (overrides $LLM_MODEL), e.g. "gpt-4o-mini" or "llama3:8b"',
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    cfg = LLMConfig(endpoint=args.endpoint, key=args.key, model=args.model)
+    regenerate_closets(
+        args.palace, wing=args.wing, sample=args.sample, dry_run=args.dry_run, cfg=cfg
+    )
diff --git a/tests/test_closet_llm.py b/tests/test_closet_llm.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..762e16d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_closet_llm.py
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+"""Unit tests for the optional LLM-based closet regeneration.
+
+These tests don't hit the network. They mock urllib to verify:
+- LLMConfig correctly reads env vars and CLI overrides
+- missing config is reported cleanly
+- the OpenAI-compatible request shape is correct
+- response parsing handles the standard chat-completions payload
+"""
+
+import io
+import json
+import os
+import tempfile
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from mempalace.closet_llm import (
+    LLMConfig,
+    _call_llm,
+    _parsed_to_closet_lines,
+    regenerate_closets,
+)
+
+
+# ── LLMConfig ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestLLMConfig:
+    def test_reads_env_vars(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("LLM_ENDPOINT", "http://localhost:11434/v1")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("LLM_KEY", "sk-abc")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("LLM_MODEL", "llama3:8b")
+        c = LLMConfig()
+        assert c.endpoint == "http://localhost:11434/v1"
+        assert c.key == "sk-abc"
+        assert c.model == "llama3:8b"
+
+    def test_cli_flags_override_env(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setenv("LLM_ENDPOINT", "http://env-endpoint/v1")
+        monkeypatch.setenv("LLM_MODEL", "env-model")
+        c = LLMConfig(endpoint="http://flag-endpoint/v1", model="flag-model")
+        assert c.endpoint == "http://flag-endpoint/v1"
+        assert c.model == "flag-model"
+
+    def test_trailing_slash_stripped(self):
+        c = LLMConfig(endpoint="http://foo/v1/", model="m")
+        assert c.endpoint == "http://foo/v1"
+
+    def test_missing_reports_required(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("LLM_ENDPOINT", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("LLM_KEY", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("LLM_MODEL", raising=False)
+        c = LLMConfig()
+        missing = c.missing()
+        assert any("ENDPOINT" in m for m in missing)
+        assert any("MODEL" in m for m in missing)
+        # key is optional
+        assert not any("KEY" in m for m in missing)
+
+    def test_key_is_optional(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("LLM_KEY", raising=False)
+        c = LLMConfig(endpoint="http://local/v1", model="m")
+        assert c.missing() == []
+
+
+# ── _parsed_to_closet_lines ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestParsedToLines:
+    def test_topics_become_pointers(self):
+        parsed = {"topics": ["authentication", "jwt tokens"], "quotes": [], "summary": ""}
+        lines = _parsed_to_closet_lines(parsed, ["d1", "d2"], "Alice;Bob")
+        assert len(lines) == 2
+        assert "authentication|Alice;Bob|→d1,d2" in lines
+        assert "jwt tokens|Alice;Bob|→d1,d2" in lines
+
+    def test_quotes_and_summary_included(self):
+        parsed = {
+            "topics": ["t1"],
+            "quotes": ["[Igor] we ship Friday"],
+            "summary": "Release planning discussion",
+        }
+        lines = _parsed_to_closet_lines(parsed, ["d1"], "")
+        joined = "\n".join(lines)
+        assert "we ship Friday" in joined
+        assert "Release planning discussion" in joined
+
+    def test_caps_topics_at_15(self):
+        parsed = {"topics": [f"t{i}" for i in range(20)], "quotes": [], "summary": ""}
+        lines = _parsed_to_closet_lines(parsed, ["d1"], "")
+        assert len(lines) == 15
+
+
+# ── _call_llm (HTTP mocked) ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class _FakeResp:
+    """Mimics urlopen's context-manager response."""
+
+    def __init__(self, payload: dict, status: int = 200):
+        self._body = json.dumps(payload).encode("utf-8")
+        self.status = status
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, *a):
+        return False
+
+    def read(self):
+        return self._body
+
+
+class TestCallLLM:
+    def _make_cfg(self):
+        return LLMConfig(
+            endpoint="http://localhost:11434/v1", key="sk-test", model="llama3:8b"
+        )
+
+    def test_request_shape_and_parsing(self):
+        cfg = self._make_cfg()
+        captured = {}
+
+        def fake_urlopen(req, timeout=None):
+            captured["url"] = req.full_url
+            captured["headers"] = dict(req.header_items())
+            captured["body"] = json.loads(req.data.decode("utf-8"))
+            return _FakeResp(
+                {
+                    "choices": [
+                        {
+                            "message": {
+                                "content": json.dumps(
+                                    {
+                                        "topics": ["postgres"],
+                                        "quotes": ["[Igor] migrate now"],
+                                        "summary": "db migration",
+                                    }
+                                )
+                            }
+                        }
+                    ],
+                    "usage": {"prompt_tokens": 42, "completion_tokens": 17},
+                }
+            )
+
+        with patch("urllib.request.urlopen", side_effect=fake_urlopen):
+            parsed, usage = _call_llm(cfg, "/tmp/test.md", "w", "r", "content body")
+
+        assert parsed["topics"] == ["postgres"]
+        assert usage["prompt_tokens"] == 42
+        assert captured["url"] == "http://localhost:11434/v1/chat/completions"
+        # Authorization header is stored capitalized-then-lowercase depending on urllib version
+        auth_vals = {v for k, v in captured["headers"].items() if k.lower() == "authorization"}
+        assert "Bearer sk-test" in auth_vals
+        assert captured["body"]["model"] == "llama3:8b"
+        assert captured["body"]["messages"][0]["role"] == "user"
+
+    def test_omits_auth_header_when_no_key(self):
+        cfg = LLMConfig(endpoint="http://localhost:11434/v1", model="llama3:8b")
+        captured_headers = {}
+
+        def fake_urlopen(req, timeout=None):
+            captured_headers.update({k.lower(): v for k, v in req.header_items()})
+            return _FakeResp(
+                {
+                    "choices": [
+                        {"message": {"content": '{"topics":[],"quotes":[],"summary":""}'}}
+                    ],
+                    "usage": {"prompt_tokens": 0, "completion_tokens": 0},
+                }
+            )
+
+        with patch("urllib.request.urlopen", side_effect=fake_urlopen):
+            _call_llm(cfg, "/tmp/x", "w", "r", "c")
+
+        assert "authorization" not in captured_headers
+
+    def test_strips_code_fences(self):
+        cfg = self._make_cfg()
+        fenced = '```json\n{"topics":["t1"],"quotes":[],"summary":""}\n```'
+
+        def fake_urlopen(req, timeout=None):
+            return _FakeResp(
+                {
+                    "choices": [{"message": {"content": fenced}}],
+                    "usage": {"prompt_tokens": 1, "completion_tokens": 1},
+                }
+            )
+
+        with patch("urllib.request.urlopen", side_effect=fake_urlopen):
+            parsed, _ = _call_llm(cfg, "/tmp/x", "w", "r", "c")
+        assert parsed == {"topics": ["t1"], "quotes": [], "summary": ""}
+
+    def test_returns_none_on_invalid_json(self):
+        cfg = self._make_cfg()
+
+        def fake_urlopen(req, timeout=None):
+            return _FakeResp(
+                {
+                    "choices": [{"message": {"content": "not json at all"}}],
+                    "usage": {"prompt_tokens": 1, "completion_tokens": 1},
+                }
+            )
+
+        with patch("urllib.request.urlopen", side_effect=fake_urlopen):
+            parsed, usage = _call_llm(cfg, "/tmp/x", "w", "r", "c")
+        assert parsed is None
+
+
+# ── regenerate_closets error paths ───────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class TestRegenerateClosets:
+    def test_missing_config_returns_error(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.delenv("LLM_ENDPOINT", raising=False)
+        monkeypatch.delenv("LLM_MODEL", raising=False)
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as palace:
+            result = regenerate_closets(palace)
+            assert result["error"] == "missing-config"
+            assert any("ENDPOINT" in m for m in result["missing"])