diff --git a/graphiti_core/utils/bulk_utils.py b/graphiti_core/utils/bulk_utils.py
index 2c5eaf5b..4538da53 100644
--- a/graphiti_core/utils/bulk_utils.py
+++ b/graphiti_core/utils/bulk_utils.py
@@ -356,6 +356,10 @@ async def dedupe_nodes_bulk(
     union_pairs.extend(duplicate_pairs)
 
     compressed_map: dict[str, str] = compress_uuid_map(union_pairs)
+    # We pass directed edges (extracted -> canonical) to the compressor, but the utility treats
+    # them as undirected pairs and picks the lexicographically smaller UUID as the component root.
+    # Re-write the entries using the original direction so that each source maps to the canonical
+    # target returned by the first/second pass even if its UUID sorts before the canonical one.
     for source_uuid, target_uuid in union_pairs:
         canonical_uuid = compressed_map.get(target_uuid, target_uuid)
         compressed_map[source_uuid] = canonical_uuid
@@ -369,7 +373,14 @@ async def dedupe_nodes_bulk(
             if canonical_uuid in seen:
                 continue
             seen.add(canonical_uuid)
-            canonical_node = canonical_nodes.get(canonical_uuid, node)
+            canonical_node = canonical_nodes.get(canonical_uuid)
+            if canonical_node is None:
+                logger.warning(
+                    'Canonical node %s missing during batch dedupe; falling back to %s',
+                    canonical_uuid,
+                    node.uuid,
+                )
+                canonical_node = node
             deduped_nodes.append(canonical_node)
 
         nodes_by_episode[episode_uuid] = deduped_nodes