diff --git a/backend/tests/conftest.py b/backend/tests/conftest.py
index fffdbaf..35537a3 100644
--- a/backend/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/backend/tests/conftest.py
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ def db() -> Generator[Session, None, None]:
     assert url.database and url.database.endswith("_test.db"), url.database
 
     path = Path(url.database)
+    # A module that ran before this fixture (one under a no-op `db`) may have
+    # connected already; a pooled connection would keep the unlinked file.
+    engine.dispose()
     path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
     # The real path, so the suite runs against a database built the way a
     # deployment's is — including the alembic stamp the app's own startup
diff --git a/backend/tests/flow/test_supervision.py b/backend/tests/flow/test_supervision.py
index 63be469..a5a6746 100644
--- a/backend/tests/flow/test_supervision.py
+++ b/backend/tests/flow/test_supervision.py
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ import pytest
 
 from fluksio.flow import supervision
 from fluksio.flow.events import EventBus
-from fluksio.flow.supervision import FAILURE_BUDGET, Supervisor
+from fluksio.flow.supervision import FAILURE_BUDGET, QUARANTINE_BACKOFF, Supervisor
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def no_backoff(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch):
     """Real backoff would make these tests a minute long."""
     monkeypatch.setattr(supervision, "BACKOFF", (0.0,))
-    # Long enough that a quarantine holds for the length of an assertion, short
-    # enough that the test asking it to expire does not wait five minutes.
-    monkeypatch.setattr(supervision, "QUARANTINE_BACKOFF", (0.05,))
+    # The quarantine keeps its real length, so it holds until a test cancels it
+    # however slow the run is; 50ms here ran out mid-assertion on a loaded run.
+    # The one test that wants it to expire shortens it itself.
 
 
 async def _settle() -> None:
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def test_a_flow_that_keeps_crashing_is_stood_down():
         assert supervisor.quarantined == {"heating"}
         assert [e["type"] for e in events].count("task_crashed") == FAILURE_BUDGET
         quarantine = [e for e in events if e["type"] == "flow_quarantined"][-1]
-        assert quarantine["retry_in_s"] == 0.05
+        assert quarantine["retry_in_s"] == QUARANTINE_BACKOFF[0]
         await supervisor.cancel_all()
 
     asyncio.run(scenario())
@@ -142,8 +142,11 @@ def test_two_tasks_on_one_flow_do_not_spend_each_others_budget():
     asyncio.run(scenario())
 
 
-def test_a_quarantine_expires_and_the_task_tries_again():
+def test_a_quarantine_expires_and_the_task_tries_again(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+):
     """The whole point: a broker that comes back is picked up without a human."""
+    monkeypatch.setattr(supervision, "QUARANTINE_BACKOFF", (0.05,))
     attempts = 0
 
     async def loop() -> None:
@@ -161,7 +164,7 @@ def test_a_quarantine_expires_and_the_task_tries_again():
         assert attempts == FAILURE_BUDGET
         assert supervisor.quarantined == {"power"}
 
-        # Sit out the rest, which the fixture has shortened to 50ms.
+        # Sit out the rest, shortened to 50ms above.
         await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
         await _settle()
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/sdk/test_imports.py b/backend/tests/sdk/test_imports.py
index a21e282..3b171cf 100644
--- a/backend/tests/sdk/test_imports.py
+++ b/backend/tests/sdk/test_imports.py
@@ -3,9 +3,19 @@
 import sys
 import textwrap
 
+import pytest
+
 from fluksio.sdk.imports import digest_of, reached
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _forget_studies():
+    """The packages below are temporary files under names other tests use too."""
+    yield
+    for name in [n for n in sys.modules if n.split(".")[0] in ("study", "arm")]:
+        del sys.modules[name]
+
+
 def _write(root, name, body):
     path = root / f"{name}.py"
     path.write_text(textwrap.dedent(body).lstrip())