diff --git a/hermes_cli/profiles.py b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
index 0fc6151979..222ccd1c43 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/profiles.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/profiles.py
@@ -1184,6 +1184,11 @@ def delete_profile(name: str, yes: bool = False) -> Path:
         _released = _MemoryStore.release_all_under(profile_dir)
         if _released:
             print(f"✓ Released {_released} memory-store connection(s) held by this process")
+    with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+        from hermes_state_registry import close_all_under as _close_session_dbs_under
+        _closed = _close_session_dbs_under(profile_dir)
+        if _closed:
+            print(f"✓ Released {_closed} session database connection(s) held by this process")
 
     # 3. Remove wrapper script
     if has_wrapper and remove_wrapper_script(canon):
diff --git a/hermes_state_registry.py b/hermes_state_registry.py
index f9415455c1..3d94c80a32 100644
--- a/hermes_state_registry.py
+++ b/hermes_state_registry.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import contextlib
 import logging
+import os
 import threading
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional, Tuple
@@ -308,6 +309,40 @@ def release(db: "SessionDB") -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def _path_is_under(path: Path, root: Path) -> bool:
+    """True when *path* is *root* or a file inside it (normcase, resolved)."""
+    try:
+        path_key = os.path.normcase(str(path.resolve()))
+        root_key = os.path.normcase(str(root.resolve()))
+    except OSError:
+        path_key = os.path.normcase(str(path))
+        root_key = os.path.normcase(str(root))
+    return path_key == root_key or path_key.startswith(root_key + os.sep)
+
+
+def _teardown_swept_generations(
+    generations: List[_Generation],
+    teardown_barriers: Dict[Path, _TeardownBarrier],
+    active_teardowns: List[_TeardownBarrier],
+) -> int:
+    """Close *generations* outside the registry lock; wait for already-admitted teardowns."""
+    by_path: Dict[Path, List[_Generation]] = {}
+    for generation in generations:
+        by_path.setdefault(generation.path, []).append(generation)
+    for path, path_generations in by_path.items():
+        with _lock:
+            lifecycle_lock = _path_lifecycle_lock_locked(path)
+        try:
+            with lifecycle_lock:
+                for generation in path_generations:
+                    _teardown(generation.db)
+        finally:
+            _finish_teardown(path, teardown_barriers[path])
+    for barrier in active_teardowns:
+        barrier.event.wait()
+    return len(generations)
+
+
 def close_all() -> int:
     """Close every shared SessionDB regardless of refcount; returns the count. For gateway
     shutdown, after all agents and cron jobs finished. Idempotent."""
@@ -321,26 +356,41 @@ def close_all() -> int:
         _retired.clear()
         for generation in generations:
             generation.retired = True
-    # Teardown outside the lock, one path at a time. Holding the lifecycle
-    # mutex across all generations for a path prevents an old retired handle
-    # and the current handle from checkpointing the same sidecars concurrently.
-    by_path: Dict[Path, List[_Generation]] = {}
-    for generation in generations:
-        by_path.setdefault(generation.path, []).append(generation)
-    for path, path_generations in by_path.items():
-        with _lock:
-            lifecycle_lock = _path_lifecycle_lock_locked(path)
-        try:
-            with lifecycle_lock:
-                for generation in path_generations:
-                    _teardown(generation.db)
-        finally:
-            _finish_teardown(path, teardown_barriers[path])
-    # A final release that removed its generation before this sweep took _lock still owns
-    # its physical close; wait for it rather than return over a running teardown.
-    for barrier in active_teardowns:
-        barrier.event.wait()
-    return len(generations)
+    return _teardown_swept_generations(generations, teardown_barriers, active_teardowns)
+
+
+def close_all_under(directory: str | Path) -> int:
+    """Force-close every shared SessionDB whose file lives under *directory*; returns the count.
+
+    Profile delete rmtree (and a same-name recreate) fails while this process still holds
+    ``state.db``. Same contract as ``MemoryStore.release_all_under``: a live holder is
+    expected to fail afterward; a process that holds none is a no-op returning 0.
+    """
+    try:
+        root = Path(directory).expanduser().resolve()
+    except OSError:
+        root = Path(directory).expanduser()
+    teardown_barriers: Dict[Path, _TeardownBarrier] = {}
+    with _lock:
+        generations = [
+            generation
+            for generation in list(_generations.values()) + list(_retired.values())
+            if _path_is_under(generation.path, root)
+        ]
+        if not generations:
+            return 0
+        selected_paths = {generation.path for generation in generations}
+        active_teardowns = [
+            barrier for path, barrier in _tearing_down.items() if path in selected_paths
+        ]
+        for path in selected_paths:
+            teardown_barriers[path] = _admit_teardown_locked(path)
+        for generation in generations:
+            generation.retired = True
+            if _generations.get(generation.path) is generation:
+                _generations.pop(generation.path, None)
+            _retired.pop(id(generation.db), None)
+    return _teardown_swept_generations(generations, teardown_barriers, active_teardowns)
 
 
 def live_shared_session_dbs() -> List["SessionDB"]:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_deleted_profile_tombstone.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_deleted_profile_tombstone.py
index fdabf90ae8..608e078ad4 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_deleted_profile_tombstone.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_deleted_profile_tombstone.py
@@ -106,6 +106,22 @@ class TestDeletedProfileTombstone:
         assert recreated.is_dir()
         assert "worker" in _named_homes(profile_env)
 
+    def test_delete_releases_this_process_session_db(self, profile_env):
+        import hermes_state_registry as registry
+
+        profile_dir = create_profile("worker", no_alias=True, no_skills=True)
+        held = registry.acquire(profile_dir / "state.db")
+        assert held._conn is not None
+        try:
+            _delete("worker")
+            assert held._conn is None
+            recreated = create_profile("worker", no_alias=True, no_skills=True)
+            again = registry.acquire(recreated / "state.db")
+            assert again._conn is not None
+            registry.release(again)
+        finally:
+            registry.close_all()
+
     def test_profile_exists_is_false_for_tombstoned_shell(self, profile_env):
         profile_dir = create_profile("worker", no_alias=True, no_skills=True)
         assert profile_exists("worker") is True
diff --git a/tests/hermes_state/test_shared_session_db_registry.py b/tests/hermes_state/test_shared_session_db_registry.py
index bc828b5f6a..8c421603a4 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_state/test_shared_session_db_registry.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_state/test_shared_session_db_registry.py
@@ -644,3 +644,30 @@ class TestMultiGenerationTeardownBarrier:
         fresh = registry.acquire(db_path)
         assert fresh is not db
         assert registry.release(fresh) is True
+
+
+class TestCloseAllUnder:
+    def test_closes_connections_inside_directory_only(self, tmp_path):
+        profile_dir = tmp_path / "profiles" / "work"
+        profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+        inside = registry.acquire(profile_dir / "state.db")
+        outside = registry.acquire(tmp_path / "other" / "state.db")
+        assert inside._conn is not None
+        assert outside._conn is not None
+
+        closed = registry.close_all_under(profile_dir)
+        assert closed == 1
+        assert inside._conn is None
+        assert outside._conn is not None
+        assert registry.close_all_under(profile_dir) == 0
+
+        again = registry.acquire(profile_dir / "state.db")
+        assert again._conn is not None
+        assert again is not inside
+        assert registry.release(again) is True
+        assert registry.release(outside) is True
+
+    def test_noop_when_this_process_holds_nothing(self, tmp_path):
+        profile_dir = tmp_path / "profiles" / "empty"
+        profile_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+        assert registry.close_all_under(profile_dir) == 0