diff --git a/python/python/lance/dataset.py b/python/python/lance/dataset.py
index ca9045adaf..88c984c9a3 100644
--- a/python/python/lance/dataset.py
+++ b/python/python/lance/dataset.py
@@ -5144,6 +5144,7 @@ def compact_files(
         max_bytes_per_file: Optional[int] = None,
         materialize_deletions: bool = True,
         materialize_deletions_threshold: float = 0.1,
+        defer_index_remap: bool = False,
         num_threads: Optional[int] = None,
         batch_size: Optional[int] = None,
     ) -> CompactionMetrics:
@@ -5185,6 +5186,8 @@ def compact_files(
         materialize_deletions_threshold: float, default 0.1
             The fraction of original rows that are soft deleted in a fragment
             before the fragment is a candidate for compaction.
+        defer_index_remap: bool, default False
+            Whether to defer index remapping during compaction.
         num_threads: int, optional
             The number of threads to use when performing compaction. If not
             specified, defaults to the number of cores on the machine.
@@ -5208,6 +5211,7 @@ def compact_files(
             max_bytes_per_file=max_bytes_per_file,
             materialize_deletions=materialize_deletions,
             materialize_deletions_threshold=materialize_deletions_threshold,
+            defer_index_remap=defer_index_remap,
             num_threads=num_threads,
             batch_size=batch_size,
         )
diff --git a/python/python/lance/optimize.py b/python/python/lance/optimize.py
index f04e9264c3..8aa37a20c1 100644
--- a/python/python/lance/optimize.py
+++ b/python/python/lance/optimize.py
@@ -59,3 +59,7 @@ class CompactionOptions(TypedDict):
 
     The default will use the same default from ``scanner``.
     """
+    defer_index_remap: Optional[bool]
+    """
+    Whether to defer index remapping during compaction (default: False).
+    """
diff --git a/python/python/tests/test_optimize.py b/python/python/tests/test_optimize.py
index 1f23f3bac4..fded1a28aa 100644
--- a/python/python/tests/test_optimize.py
+++ b/python/python/tests/test_optimize.py
@@ -304,6 +304,23 @@ def test_index_remapping_multiple_rewrite_tasks(tmp_path: Path):
     assert index_frag_ids[0] in frag_ids
 
 
+def test_defer_index_remap(tmp_path: Path):
+    base_dir = tmp_path / "dataset"
+    data = pa.table({"i": range(6_000), "val": range(6_000)})
+    dataset = lance.write_dataset(data, base_dir, max_rows_per_file=1_000)
+
+    options = dict(
+        target_rows_per_fragment=2_000, defer_index_remap=True, num_threads=1
+    )
+
+    dataset.delete("i < 500")
+    dataset.optimize.compact_files(**options)
+
+    dataset = lance.dataset(base_dir)
+    indices = dataset.list_indices()
+    assert any(idx["name"] == "__lance_frag_reuse" for idx in indices)
+
+
 def test_dataset_distributed_optimize(tmp_path: Path):
     base_dir = tmp_path / "dataset"
     data = pa.table({"a": range(800), "b": range(800)})
diff --git a/python/src/dataset/optimize.rs b/python/src/dataset/optimize.rs
index d398f5b7ce..b62270f62b 100644
--- a/python/src/dataset/optimize.rs
+++ b/python/src/dataset/optimize.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ fn parse_compaction_options(options: &Bound<'_, PyDict>) -> PyResult<CompactionO
             "materialize_deletions_threshold" => {
                 opts.materialize_deletions_threshold = value.extract()?;
             }
+            "defer_index_remap" => {
+                opts.defer_index_remap = value.extract()?;
+            }
             "num_threads" => {
                 opts.num_threads = value.extract()?;
             }