diff --git a/backend/database.py b/backend/database.py
index c0b5580..b08e495 100644
--- a/backend/database.py
+++ b/backend/database.py
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@ os.makedirs("data", exist_ok=True)
 
 _DATABASE_URL = os.environ.get("DATABASE_URL", "sqlite:///./data/topology.db")
 
-engine = create_engine(
-    _DATABASE_URL,
-    connect_args={"check_same_thread": False}
-)
+_engine_kwargs: dict = {"connect_args": {"check_same_thread": False}}
+if ":memory:" in _DATABASE_URL:
+    from sqlalchemy.pool import StaticPool
+    _engine_kwargs["poolclass"] = StaticPool
+
+engine = create_engine(_DATABASE_URL, **_engine_kwargs)
 
 
 @event.listens_for(Engine, "connect")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_validation.py b/backend/tests/test_validation.py
index 1a88209..f76d003 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_validation.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_validation.py
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ from sqlalchemy import text
 import sys, os
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
 
+# Redirect to an in-memory database so tests never touch the production volume.
+os.environ["DATABASE_URL"] = "sqlite:///:memory:"
+
 from database import engine, Base
 from main import app, _migrate_users_must_change_password, _migrate_users_token_version, _migrate_users