diff --git a/docs/overview.md b/docs/overview.md
index 0f99db210..4aacc577d 100644
--- a/docs/overview.md
+++ b/docs/overview.md
@@ -517,7 +517,11 @@ Transactional mutators allow you to batch and stage local changes across collect
 
 Mutators are created with a `mutationFn`. You can define a single, generic `mutationFn` for your whole app. Or you can define collection or mutation specific functions.
 
-The `mutationFn` is responsible for handling the local changes and processing them, usually to send them to a server or database to be stored, e.g.:
+The `mutationFn` is responsible for handling the local changes and processing them, usually to send them to a server or database to be stored.
+
+**Important:** Inside your `mutationFn`, you must ensure that your server writes have synced back before you return, as the optimistic state is dropped when you return from the mutation function. You generally use collection-specific helpers to do this, such as Query's `utils.refetch()`, direct write APIs, or Electric's `utils.awaitTxId()`.
+
+For example:
 
 ```tsx
 import type { MutationFn } from "@tanstack/react-db"
@@ -556,13 +560,19 @@ const addTodo = createOptimisticAction<string>({
       completed: false,
     })
   },
-  mutationFn: async (text) => {
+  mutationFn: async (text, params) => {
     // Persist the todo to your backend
     const response = await fetch("/api/todos", {
       method: "POST",
       body: JSON.stringify({ text, completed: false }),
     })
-    return response.json()
+    const result = await response.json()
+    
+    // IMPORTANT: Ensure server writes have synced back before returning
+    // This ensures the optimistic state can be safely discarded
+    await todoCollection.utils.refetch()
+    
+    return result
   },
 })
 
diff --git a/packages/db/src/optimistic-action.ts b/packages/db/src/optimistic-action.ts
index 83db572bb..09ad02a15 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/optimistic-action.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/optimistic-action.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ import type { CreateOptimisticActionsOptions, Transaction } from "./types"
  * The optimistic update is applied via the `onMutate` callback, and the server mutation
  * is executed via the `mutationFn`.
  *
+ * **Important:** Inside your `mutationFn`, you must ensure that your server writes have synced back
+ * before you return, as the optimistic state is dropped when you return from the mutation function.
+ * You generally use collection-specific helpers to do this, such as Query's `utils.refetch()`,
+ * direct write APIs, or Electric's `utils.awaitTxId()`.
+ *
  * @example
  * ```ts
  * const addTodo = createOptimisticAction<string>({
@@ -26,7 +31,13 @@ import type { CreateOptimisticActionsOptions, Transaction } from "./types"
  *       method: 'POST',
  *       body: JSON.stringify({ text, completed: false }),
  *     })
- *     return response.json()
+ *     const result = await response.json()
+ *
+ *     // IMPORTANT: Ensure server writes have synced back before returning
+ *     // This ensures the optimistic state can be safely discarded
+ *     await todoCollection.utils.refetch()
+ *
+ *     return result
  *   }
  * })
  *