diff --git a/src/basic_memory/api/routers/project_router.py b/src/basic_memory/api/routers/project_router.py
index a646faa9d..3461b3f1c 100644
--- a/src/basic_memory/api/routers/project_router.py
+++ b/src/basic_memory/api/routers/project_router.py
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ async def sync_project(
     force_full: bool = Query(
         False, description="Force full scan, bypassing watermark optimization"
     ),
+    run_in_background: bool = Query(True, description="Run in background")
 ):
     """Force project filesystem sync to database.
 
@@ -123,21 +124,29 @@ async def sync_project(
         sync_service: Sync service for this project
         project_config: Project configuration
         force_full: If True, force a full scan even if watermark exists
+        run_in_background: If True, run sync in background and return immediately
 
     Returns:
-        Response confirming sync was initiated
+        Response confirming sync was initiated (background) or SyncReportResponse (foreground)
     """
-    background_tasks.add_task(
-        sync_service.sync, project_config.home, project_config.name, force_full=force_full
-    )
-    logger.info(
-        f"Filesystem sync initiated for project: {project_config.name} (force_full={force_full})"
-    )
+    if run_in_background:
+        background_tasks.add_task(
+            sync_service.sync, project_config.home, project_config.name, force_full=force_full
+        )
+        logger.info(
+            f"Filesystem sync initiated for project: {project_config.name} (force_full={force_full})"
+        )
 
-    return {
-        "status": "sync_started",
-        "message": f"Filesystem sync initiated for project '{project_config.name}'",
-    }
+        return {
+            "status": "sync_started",
+            "message": f"Filesystem sync initiated for project '{project_config.name}'",
+        }
+    else:
+        report = await sync_service.sync(project_config.home, project_config.name, force_full=force_full)
+        logger.info(
+            f"Filesystem sync completed for project: {project_config.name} (force_full={force_full})"
+        )
+        return SyncReportResponse.from_sync_report(report)
 
 
 @project_router.post("/status", response_model=SyncReportResponse)
diff --git a/tests/api/test_project_router.py b/tests/api/test_project_router.py
index 19498da3f..26fbbd6b2 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_project_router.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_project_router.py
@@ -510,6 +510,95 @@ async def test_sync_project_endpoint_not_found(client):
     assert response.status_code == 404
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_sync_project_endpoint_foreground(test_graph, client, project_url):
+    """Test the project sync endpoint with run_in_background=false returns sync report."""
+    # Call the sync endpoint with run_in_background=false
+    response = await client.post(f"{project_url}/project/sync?run_in_background=false")
+
+    # Verify response
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+
+    # Check that we get a sync report instead of status message
+    assert "new" in data
+    assert "modified" in data
+    assert "deleted" in data
+    assert "moves" in data
+    assert "checksums" in data
+    assert "skipped_files" in data
+    assert "total" in data
+
+    # Verify these are the right types
+    assert isinstance(data["new"], list)
+    assert isinstance(data["modified"], list)
+    assert isinstance(data["deleted"], list)
+    assert isinstance(data["moves"], dict)
+    assert isinstance(data["checksums"], dict)
+    assert isinstance(data["skipped_files"], list)
+    assert isinstance(data["total"], int)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_sync_project_endpoint_foreground_with_force_full(test_graph, client, project_url):
+    """Test the project sync endpoint with run_in_background=false and force_full=true."""
+    # Call the sync endpoint with both parameters
+    response = await client.post(
+        f"{project_url}/project/sync?run_in_background=false&force_full=true"
+    )
+
+    # Verify response
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    data = response.json()
+
+    # Check that we get a sync report with all expected fields
+    assert "new" in data
+    assert "modified" in data
+    assert "deleted" in data
+    assert "moves" in data
+    assert "checksums" in data
+    assert "skipped_files" in data
+    assert "total" in data
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_sync_project_endpoint_foreground_with_changes(
+    test_graph, client, project_config, project_url, tmpdir
+):
+    """Test foreground sync detects actual file changes."""
+    # Create a new file in the project directory
+    import os
+    from pathlib import Path
+
+    test_file = Path(project_config.home) / "new_test_file.md"
+    test_file.write_text("# New Test File\n\nThis is a test file for sync detection.")
+
+    try:
+        # Call the sync endpoint with run_in_background=false
+        response = await client.post(f"{project_url}/project/sync?run_in_background=false")
+
+        # Verify response
+        assert response.status_code == 200
+        data = response.json()
+
+        # The sync report should show changes (the new file we created)
+        assert data["total"] >= 0  # Should have at least detected changes
+        assert "new" in data
+        assert "modified" in data
+        assert "deleted" in data
+
+        # At least one of these should have changes
+        has_changes = (
+            len(data["new"]) > 0 or len(data["modified"]) > 0 or len(data["deleted"]) > 0
+        )
+        assert has_changes or data["total"] >= 0  # Either changes detected or empty sync is valid
+
+    finally:
+        # Clean up the test file
+        if test_file.exists():
+            os.remove(test_file)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_remove_default_project_fails(test_config, client, project_service):
     """Test that removing the default project returns an error."""