diff --git a/app/models/access_token.rb b/app/models/access_token.rb
index 7cdaeb0cb3..2f158ff18a 100644
--- a/app/models/access_token.rb
+++ b/app/models/access_token.rb
@@ -145,8 +145,25 @@ def self.find_from_id_or_value(id_or_value)
   # This can't change or it will create new tokens for everyone
   OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN = 'OIDC Synchronization Token'.freeze
 
+  # nil covers legacy tokens created before expiration was added; can be removed after a release
+  scope :stale, -> { where(name: OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN, expires_at: [...Time.now.utc, nil]) }
+
   def self.oidc_sync
-    create_with(scopes: %w[account_management], permission: 'ro').find_or_create_by!(name: OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN)
+    user_id = scope_attributes["owner_id"]
+    cache_key = "access_tokens/user:#{user_id}/oidc"
+
+    # Hot path: skip the transaction entirely on cache hit (zero DB queries).
+    cached = Rails.cache.read(cache_key)
+    return cached if cached
+
+    transaction do
+      # Lock to serialize concurrent cache misses (e.g. full resync).
+      lock.where(name: OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).load
+
+      Rails.cache.fetch(cache_key, expires_in: 1.hour) do
+        create!(name: OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN, scopes: %w[account_management], permission: 'ro', expires_at: 1.day.from_now.utc.iso8601).plaintext_value
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   def scopes=(values)
diff --git a/app/workers/janitor_worker.rb b/app/workers/janitor_worker.rb
index a2e09bdc42..3d7502b52d 100644
--- a/app/workers/janitor_worker.rb
+++ b/app/workers/janitor_worker.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def perform
 
     PurgeOldUserSessionsWorker.perform_async
     PurgeStaleObjectsWorker.perform_later(EventStore::Event.name, DeletedObject.name)
-    DeleteAllStaleObjectsWorker.perform_later(MessageRecipient.name, Message.name)
+    DeleteAllStaleObjectsWorker.perform_later(MessageRecipient.name, Message.name, AccessToken.name)
 
     true
   end
diff --git a/app/workers/zync_worker.rb b/app/workers/zync_worker.rb
index 5ff32e6acb..56ca965a2b 100644
--- a/app/workers/zync_worker.rb
+++ b/app/workers/zync_worker.rb
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def provider_endpoint(provider)
   def self.provider_access_token(provider)
     user = provider.find_impersonation_admin || provider.first_admin!
 
-    user.access_tokens.oidc_sync.value
+    user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
   end
 
   def notification_url
diff --git a/test/models/access_token_test.rb b/test/models/access_token_test.rb
index 34f3b29c6f..8bc087f359 100644
--- a/test/models/access_token_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/access_token_test.rb
@@ -312,6 +312,146 @@ def test_find_from_value_rejects_leaked_hash_as_token
     assert access_token.valid?
   end
 
+  # oidc_sync tests
+
+  class RefreshOidcSyncTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
+    setup do
+      @original_cache = Rails.cache
+      Rails.cache = ActiveSupport::Cache::MemoryStore.new
+      @provider = FactoryBot.create(:simple_provider)
+      @user = FactoryBot.create(:admin, account: @provider)
+    end
+
+    teardown do
+      Rails.cache.clear
+      Rails.cache = @original_cache
+    end
+
+    test 'returns a plaintext string' do
+      result = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      assert_instance_of String, result
+      assert_equal 96, result.length
+      assert_match(/\A[0-9a-f]+\z/, result)
+    end
+
+    test 'creates an OIDC sync token in DB whose digest matches the returned plaintext' do
+      plaintext = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      token = @user.access_tokens.find_by!(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN)
+      assert_equal AccessToken.compute_digest(plaintext), token.read_attribute(:value)
+    end
+
+    test 'second call returns same plaintext from cache without rotating' do
+      first = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+      second = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      assert_equal first, second
+      assert_equal 1, @user.access_tokens.where(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).count
+    end
+
+    test 'returns a new plaintext after cache expires and does not modify old tokens' do
+      first = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+      old_token = @user.access_tokens.find_by!(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN)
+      old_expires_at = old_token.expires_at
+
+      travel_to(1.hour.from_now + 1.second) do
+        second = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+        assert_not_equal first, second
+        assert_equal old_expires_at, old_token.reload.expires_at, "Old token should not be modified"
+        assert_equal 2, @user.access_tokens.where(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).count
+      end
+    end
+
+    test 'new tokens are created with a 1-day expiration' do
+      @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      token = @user.access_tokens.find_by!(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN)
+      assert token.expires_at.present?
+      assert token.expires_at > Time.now.utc, "Token should not be expired yet"
+      assert token.expires_at < Time.now.utc + 1.day + 1.minute, "Token should expire within ~1 day"
+    end
+
+    test 'expired tokens remain valid for authentication' do
+      plaintext = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      travel_to(1.hour.from_now + 1.second) do
+        @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+        old_token = AccessToken.find_from_value(plaintext)
+        assert_not_nil old_token, "Old token should still be findable by plaintext"
+        assert_not old_token.expired?, "Old token should not be expired yet (expires in ~1 day)"
+      end
+    end
+
+    test 'works on first call with no existing tokens' do
+      assert_equal 0, @user.access_tokens.where(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).count
+
+      result = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      assert_instance_of String, result
+      assert_equal 1, @user.access_tokens.where(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).count
+    end
+
+    test 'tokens from different users are independent' do
+      other_provider = FactoryBot.create(:simple_provider)
+      other_user = FactoryBot.create(:admin, account: other_provider)
+
+      plaintext_a = @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+      plaintext_b = other_user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      assert_not_equal plaintext_a, plaintext_b
+      assert_equal 1, @user.access_tokens.where(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).count
+      assert_equal 1, other_user.access_tokens.where(name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN).count
+    end
+
+    test 'returns cached value without DB queries on cache hit' do
+      @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync
+
+      assert_number_of_queries(0) { @user.access_tokens.oidc_sync }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # stale scope tests
+
+  test 'stale scope returns only expired OIDC sync tokens' do
+    provider = FactoryBot.create(:simple_provider)
+    user = FactoryBot.create(:admin, account: provider)
+
+    expired_token = FactoryBot.create(:access_token, owner: user, name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN,
+                                      scopes: %w[account_management], permission: 'ro')
+    expired_token.update_columns(expires_at: 1.hour.ago)
+
+    active_token = FactoryBot.create(:access_token, owner: user, name: "#{AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN} 2",
+                                     scopes: %w[account_management], permission: 'ro')
+    active_token.update_columns(expires_at: 1.day.from_now)
+
+    other_token = FactoryBot.create(:access_token, owner: user)
+    other_token.update_columns(expires_at: 1.hour.ago)
+
+    scope_ids = AccessToken.stale.pluck(:id)
+    assert_includes scope_ids, expired_token.id
+    assert_not_includes scope_ids, active_token.id
+    assert_not_includes scope_ids, other_token.id
+  end
+
+  test 'stale scope includes OIDC sync tokens with nil expires_at (legacy tokens)' do
+    provider = FactoryBot.create(:simple_provider)
+    user = FactoryBot.create(:admin, account: provider)
+
+    legacy_token = FactoryBot.create(:access_token, owner: user, name: AccessToken::OIDC_SYNC_TOKEN,
+                                     scopes: %w[account_management], permission: 'ro')
+    legacy_token.update_columns(expires_at: nil)
+
+    other_legacy_token = FactoryBot.create(:access_token, owner: user)
+    other_legacy_token.update_columns(expires_at: nil)
+
+    scope_ids = AccessToken.stale.pluck(:id)
+    assert_includes scope_ids, legacy_token.id
+    assert_not_includes scope_ids, other_legacy_token.id
+  end
+
   private
 
   def assert_access_token_audit_all_data(access_token, audit)
diff --git a/test/workers/janitor_worker_test.rb b/test/workers/janitor_worker_test.rb
index a1c10c483b..6908c04ab5 100644
--- a/test/workers/janitor_worker_test.rb
+++ b/test/workers/janitor_worker_test.rb
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ def test_not_enabled
   def mock_purge_workers(called_times:)
     PurgeOldUserSessionsWorker.expects(:perform_async).send(called_times)
     PurgeStaleObjectsWorker.expects(:perform_later).send(called_times).with(EventStore::Event.name, DeletedObject.name)
-    DeleteAllStaleObjectsWorker.expects(:perform_later).send(called_times).with(MessageRecipient.name, Message.name)
+    DeleteAllStaleObjectsWorker.expects(:perform_later).send(called_times).with(MessageRecipient.name, Message.name, AccessToken.name)
   end
 end