diff --git a/cmd/server/tests/collections_preview_test.go b/cmd/server/tests/collections_preview_test.go
index ef3366e8..41194be8 100644
--- a/cmd/server/tests/collections_preview_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/tests/collections_preview_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
@@ -367,8 +366,6 @@ func TestPreviewCollection(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func createPreviewTestMediaItems(t *testing.T, db *database.Queries, libraryID string, count int) []string {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
 	libUUID, err := uuid.Parse(libraryID)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Should parse library ID")
 
diff --git a/cmd/server/tests/facets_integration_test.go b/cmd/server/tests/facets_integration_test.go
index dbbabca6..c0bebea2 100644
--- a/cmd/server/tests/facets_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/tests/facets_integration_test.go
@@ -318,7 +318,6 @@ func mergeParams(base, extra url.Values) url.Values {
 // "Baen Books") cross-match at 0.3+ (session gotcha).
 func facetFixtureBooks(t *testing.T, setup *TestServerSetup, libraryID pgtype.UUID, prefix string) {
 	t.Helper()
-	ctx := context.Background()
 	books := []struct {
 		title     string
 		genre     string
diff --git a/cmd/server/tests/statistics_test.go b/cmd/server/tests/statistics_test.go
index 2e08d9cd..4a4566b0 100644
--- a/cmd/server/tests/statistics_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/tests/statistics_test.go
@@ -526,7 +526,6 @@ func TestReadingStatsWeekLibraryScope(t *testing.T) {
 func TestLibraryUsageStats(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupTestServer(t)
 	userID := getRegularUserID(t, setup.DB)
-	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	ebooksID := uuid.MustParse(createLibraryDirect(t, setup.DB, userID,
 		fmt.Sprintf("Test Usage Ebooks %d", time.Now().UnixNano()), "ebooks"))
@@ -689,7 +688,6 @@ func TestLibraryUsageStats(t *testing.T) {
 func TestLibraryUsageStats_Visibility(t *testing.T) {
 	setup := setupTestServer(t)
 	userID := getRegularUserID(t, setup.DB)
-	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	visibleID := uuid.MustParse(createLibraryDirect(t, setup.DB, userID,
 		fmt.Sprintf("Test Usage Visible %d", time.Now().UnixNano()), "ebooks"))
diff --git a/cmd/server/tests/sync_integration_test.go b/cmd/server/tests/sync_integration_test.go
index 0bab36b6..c4550cfc 100644
--- a/cmd/server/tests/sync_integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/tests/sync_integration_test.go
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ func createSyncTestDevice(t *testing.T, db *database.Queries, userID pgtype.UUID
 }
 
 func createSyncTestMedia(t *testing.T, db *database.Queries, libraryID pgtype.UUID) pgtype.UUID {
-	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	media, err := db.CreateMediaItem(seedCtx(), database.CreateMediaItemParams{
 		LibraryID: libraryID,
diff --git a/cmd/server/tests/test_helpers_test.go b/cmd/server/tests/test_helpers_test.go
index 7f451c21..9b68c27b 100644
--- a/cmd/server/tests/test_helpers_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/tests/test_helpers_test.go
@@ -509,14 +509,14 @@ func setupTestServer(t *testing.T) *TestServerSetup {
 	// ScopedDB: the test server must behave EXACTLY like the production
 	// wiring (main.go) — every statement through Queries declares the
 	// acting user for RLS, including the search service's raw DBTX path.
-	// TestServerSetup.DB below is a SEPARATE raw-pool handle used ONLY
-	// for harness seeding/cleanup: write policies are permissive (no GUC
-	// read) and every seeded table except media_items is RLS-ungoverned,
-	// so seeding needs no identity; direct media SELECTs through it
-	// raise loudly, which is correct — tests read media through HTTP.
+	// TestServerSetup.DB below is the SEED handle — also ScopedDB-wired
+	// (required: sqlc :one inserts use RETURNING, which evaluates the
+	// SELECT policy even on INSERT) — but its callers pass seedCtx(), a
+	// synthetic identity with no visibility rows, so seeding sees and
+	// writes everything. Real personas only exist at the HTTP layer.
 	scopedDB := database.NewScopedDB(dbPool)
 	queries := database.New(scopedDB)
-	seedDB := database.New(dbPool)
+	seedDB := database.New(database.NewScopedDB(dbPool))
 
 	// Wire the tunable settings registry exactly like main.go: Load
 	// populates the cache (missing rows fall back to compiled defaults)