diff --git a/perf/benchmark-pruner.mjs b/perf/benchmark-pruner.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..044532f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/perf/benchmark-pruner.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { createLifecyclePlan } from '../src/services/memory/pruner.js';
+import crypto from 'node:crypto';
+
+const COUNT = 30000;
+const DUPLICATE_WINDOW_MS = 1000 * 60 * 60; // 1 hour
+
+function createMemory(i) {
+  return {
+    id: `mem-${i}`,
+    agent_id: 'agent-1',
+    session_id: 's1',
+    type: 'event',
+    content: `memory content ${i}`,
+    summary: `memory summary ${i}`,
+    tags: ['tag-a', 'tag-b'],
+    importance: 0.5,
+    embedding_id: null,
+    created_at: Date.now() - Math.floor(Math.random() * 10 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000), // Random time in last 10 days
+    last_seen: Date.now(),
+    source: 'ingest',
+    ttl_days: null,
+    merged_into: null,
+    pinned: false,
+  };
+}
+
+const memories = Array.from({ length: COUNT }, (_, i) => createMemory(i));
+
+// Mock embedding function
+const getEmbedding = (memory) => {
+    // Generate a pseudo-random embedding based on ID to be deterministic but varied
+    const val = parseInt(memory.id.split('-')[1]) % 100;
+    return [val, 100 - val];
+};
+
+console.time('createLifecyclePlan');
+await createLifecyclePlan(memories, {
+  now: Date.now(),
+  retentionMs: 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000,
+  duplicateWindowMs: DUPLICATE_WINDOW_MS,
+  getEmbedding,
+  generateSummary: async () => JSON.stringify({ summary: 'merged', importance: 0.5 }),
+});
+console.timeEnd('createLifecyclePlan');
diff --git a/src/services/memory/pruner.js b/src/services/memory/pruner.js
index bf996d6..cd5f25e 100644
--- a/src/services/memory/pruner.js
+++ b/src/services/memory/pruner.js
@@ -67,22 +67,29 @@ function evaluateCandidate(memory, policy) {
  * @param {{ getEmbedding?: (memory: import('./schema.js').MemoryRecord) => number[] | null | undefined, similarityThreshold: number, duplicateWindowMs: number }} options
  */
 function groupNearDuplicates(memories, options) {
+  // Sort by created_at to enable early exit in the inner loop
+  const sortedMemories = [...memories].sort((a, b) => a.created_at - b.created_at);
+
   const groups = [];
   const consumed = new Set();
 
-  for (let i = 0; i < memories.length; i += 1) {
-    const base = memories[i];
+  for (let i = 0; i < sortedMemories.length; i += 1) {
+    const base = sortedMemories[i];
     if (consumed.has(base.id) || base.merged_into) continue;
 
     const baseEmbedding = options.getEmbedding?.(base);
     const group = [base];
 
-    for (let j = i + 1; j < memories.length; j += 1) {
-      const probe = memories[j];
+    for (let j = i + 1; j < sortedMemories.length; j += 1) {
+      const probe = sortedMemories[j];
+
+      // Optimization: Since sorted by created_at, if the time difference exceeds the window,
+      // all subsequent items will also be outside the window.
+      if (probe.created_at - base.created_at > options.duplicateWindowMs) break;
+
       if (consumed.has(probe.id) || probe.merged_into || probe.id === base.id) continue;
 
-      const withinWindow = Math.abs(base.created_at - probe.created_at) <= options.duplicateWindowMs;
-      if (!withinWindow || !hasTagOverlap(base.tags, probe.tags)) continue;
+      if (!hasTagOverlap(base.tags, probe.tags)) continue;
 
       const similarity = cosineSimilarity(baseEmbedding, options.getEmbedding?.(probe));
       if (similarity >= options.similarityThreshold) {