diff --git a/python/rcdb/app_context.py b/python/rcdb/app_context.py
index 0e2cf7c..af79b71 100644
--- a/python/rcdb/app_context.py
+++ b/python/rcdb/app_context.py
@@ -19,6 +19,18 @@ def db(self) -> RCDBProvider:
             self._db_instance = RCDBProvider(self.connection_str)
         return self._db_instance
 
+    def close(self):
+        """Disconnect the database if one was opened.
+
+        Safe to call when no connection was ever made. The CLI registers this on
+        the Click context so the engine is disposed deterministically when the
+        command finishes, instead of waiting for garbage collection (which on
+        Python 3.13+ leaks a ``ResourceWarning: unclosed database``).
+        """
+        if self._db_instance is not None:
+            self._db_instance.disconnect()
+            self._db_instance = None
+
     def require_connected_db(self) -> RCDBProvider:
         """Return the RCDBProvider, or fail with a clear CLI error if no connection was given.
 
diff --git a/python/rcdb/cli/app.py b/python/rcdb/cli/app.py
index ccfac5d..625b21c 100644
--- a/python/rcdb/cli/app.py
+++ b/python/rcdb/cli/app.py
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ def rcdb_cli(ctx, user_config, connection, config, verbose):
     for key, value in config:
         ctx.obj.set_config(key, value)
 
+    # Dispose the DB engine deterministically when the command finishes, rather
+    # than leaving it to garbage collection. On Python 3.13+ a lingering, GC'd
+    # SQLite connection emits "ResourceWarning: unclosed database" at an
+    # unpredictable time, which can leak into command output captured by tests.
+    ctx.call_on_close(ctx.obj.close)
+
     # Bo commands given
     if ctx.invoked_subcommand is None:
         # There is a connection but no subcommand
diff --git a/python/rcdb/provider.py b/python/rcdb/provider.py
index 453c1df..97f2c61 100644
--- a/python/rcdb/provider.py
+++ b/python/rcdb/provider.py
@@ -150,9 +150,19 @@ def connect(self, connection_string="mysql+pymysql://rcdb@127.0.0.1/rcdb", check
     # Closes connection to data
     # ------------------------------------------------
     def disconnect(self):
-        """Closes connection to database"""
+        """Closes connection to database.
+
+        Closes the ORM session and disposes the SQLAlchemy engine so the
+        underlying connection pool releases its DBAPI connections. Without the
+        ``engine.dispose()`` the pooled SQLite/MySQL connection stays open until
+        the engine is garbage collected, which on Python 3.13+ surfaces as a
+        ``ResourceWarning: unclosed database`` at an unpredictable time.
+        """
         self._is_connected = False
-        self.session.close()
+        if self.session is not None:
+            self.session.close()
+        if self.engine is not None:
+            self.engine.dispose()
 
     # -------------------------------------------------
     # indicates ether the connection is open or not