diff --git a/src/core/runner.py b/src/core/runner.py
index b800ea7..2dc9327 100644
--- a/src/core/runner.py
+++ b/src/core/runner.py
@@ -58,3 +58,42 @@ class RobustCompressorTestRunner(DiscoverRunner):
                 except PermissionError: time.sleep(0.05)
             raise
         CompressorFileStorage.save = _robust_save
+
+    def teardown_databases(self, old_config, **kwargs):
+        """Force-close any lingering DB connections before Django issues
+        `DROP DATABASE`. Without this, CI fails post-test w. Postgres'
+        `ObjectInUse: database "..." is being accessed by other users`
+        even on a fully-green run.
+
+        Root cause: `core.settings.DATABASES['default']['conn_max_age']
+        = 600` keeps Postgres connections alive in the per-thread pool
+        for 10 min. Channels' `database_sync_to_async` (used in
+        `apps.epic.tests.integrated.test_consumers`'s `CursorMoveConsumerTest`
+        + `SigHoverConsumerTest`) runs in a global asgiref threadpool;
+        each worker thread accumulates its own DB connection that
+        outlives the test + sits idle in the pool when teardown fires.
+        Postgres refuses the drop while ANY session targets the row.
+
+        Two-step fix — `connections.close_all()` covers the main
+        thread (test runner's own connection); `pg_terminate_backend`
+        targets any worker-thread session still pinning the test DB.
+        Both are safe on a green test run: the DB is about to be
+        dropped anyway, and prod's `CONN_MAX_AGE=600` stays untouched
+        (the fix lives in the test runner, not in `settings.py`).
+
+        Local dev (SQLite, no DROP step) is unaffected; CI Postgres
+        is where the leak was visible. See [[feedback-test-teardown-conn-leak]].
+        """
+        from django.db import connections
+        connections.close_all()
+        for connection, _, _ in old_config:
+            if connection.vendor == "postgresql":
+                test_db_name = connection.settings_dict["NAME"]
+                with connection._nodb_cursor() as cursor:
+                    cursor.execute(
+                        "SELECT pg_terminate_backend(pid) "
+                        "FROM pg_stat_activity "
+                        "WHERE datname = %s AND pid <> pg_backend_pid()",
+                        [test_db_name],
+                    )
+        super().teardown_databases(old_config, **kwargs)