diff --git a/tests/integration/count-synchronization.test.ts b/tests/integration/count-synchronization.test.ts
index 8e6d19f8..6923ab6d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/count-synchronization.test.ts
+++ b/tests/integration/count-synchronization.test.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@ describe('Count Synchronization (Bug Fix v4.1.2)', () => {
   })
 
   afterEach(async () => {
+    // Close the brain first so its writer-lock heartbeat + flush timers stop
+    // before the directory is removed — otherwise they race teardown and bleed
+    // state into the next test.
+    try {
+      await brain?.close()
+    } catch {
+      // Best-effort teardown.
+    }
     // Clean up test directory
     try {
       await fs.rm(testPath, { recursive: true, force: true })
diff --git a/tests/integration/get-relations-fix.test.ts b/tests/integration/get-relations-fix.test.ts
index 71efad6f..451e34a0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/get-relations-fix.test.ts
+++ b/tests/integration/get-relations-fix.test.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ describe('related() call patterns', () => {
   })
 
   afterEach(async () => {
+    // Close the brain first so its writer-lock heartbeat + flush timers stop
+    // before the directory is removed — otherwise they race teardown and bleed
+    // state into the next test.
+    try {
+      await brain?.close()
+    } catch {
+      // Best-effort teardown.
+    }
     // Clean up test directory
     try {
       await fs.rm(testPath, { recursive: true, force: true })