diff --git a/tests/integration/writer-lock-fencing.test.ts b/tests/integration/writer-lock-fencing.test.ts
index e9f98dac..d5b82c30 100644
--- a/tests/integration/writer-lock-fencing.test.ts
+++ b/tests/integration/writer-lock-fencing.test.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ describe('writer-lock fencing', () => {
     // Old rule: heartbeat-age eviction → silent takeover → split brain.
     // New rule: live PID = live writer; the second opener throws typed.
     const second = new Brainy({ storage: { type: 'filesystem', path: dir }, requireSubtype: false })
+    brains.push(second)
     await expect(second.init()).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'BRAINY_WRITER_LOCKED' })
   }, 120000)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugin-version-coupling.test.ts b/tests/unit/plugin-version-coupling.test.ts
index ffcc2a88..d4685ae2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugin-version-coupling.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/plugin-version-coupling.test.ts
@@ -143,5 +143,6 @@ describe('version coupling at init() — no silent fallback', () => {
       plugins: ['@soulcraft/this-package-does-not-exist-xyz']
     })
     await expect(brain.init()).rejects.toThrow(/could not be loaded|config\.plugins/)
+    await brain.close().catch(() => {})
   })
 })