diff --git a/internal/testutil/testutil.go b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
index 9462125..4a314ae 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package testutil
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -26,6 +27,24 @@ func OpenTestDB(t *testing.T) *store.Store {
 	return st
 }
 
+// OpenTestDBFile is OpenTestDB on a file-backed store, returning the db path for reopen/stat tests.
+func OpenTestDBFile(t *testing.T) (*store.Store, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "test.db")
+
+	st, err := store.Open(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
+	return st, path
+}
+
 func LogTree(t *testing.T, st *store.Store) {
 	t.Helper()
 	ctx := context.Background()
diff --git a/pkg/doctor/doctor_test.go b/pkg/doctor/doctor_test.go
index 7850406..d105239 100644
--- a/pkg/doctor/doctor_test.go
+++ b/pkg/doctor/doctor_test.go
@@ -5,33 +5,14 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/store"
+	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/testutil"
 )
 
-func newCleanStore(t *testing.T) (*store.Store, string) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	path := filepath.Join(dir, "doctor.db")
-
-	st, err := store.Open(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
-
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
-	return st, path
-}
-
 func TestRunCleanDB(t *testing.T) {
-	st, _ := newCleanStore(t)
+	st, _ := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	report := Run(context.Background(), st)
 
@@ -66,7 +47,7 @@ func TestRunCleanDB(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHealFixesBrokenFTS(t *testing.T) {
-	st, path := newCleanStore(t)
+	st, path := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	insertSampleNodes(t, path)
 
@@ -99,7 +80,7 @@ func TestHealFixesBrokenFTS(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHealIsIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
-	st, _ := newCleanStore(t)
+	st, _ := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	first := Heal(context.Background(), st)
 	second := Heal(context.Background(), st)
@@ -116,7 +97,7 @@ func TestHealIsIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestReportJSONShape(t *testing.T) {
-	st, _ := newCleanStore(t)
+	st, _ := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	report := Run(context.Background(), st)
 
@@ -151,7 +132,7 @@ func TestReportJSONShape(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestReportTextShape(t *testing.T) {
-	st, _ := newCleanStore(t)
+	st, _ := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	report := Run(context.Background(), st)
 
@@ -254,7 +235,7 @@ func TestWriteTextHeader(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWriteTextHeaderHealsToHealthy(t *testing.T) {
-	st, path := newCleanStore(t)
+	st, path := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	insertSampleNodes(t, path)
 	if err := breakFTSSync(path); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/inspect/inspect_test.go b/pkg/inspect/inspect_test.go
index 0d820d7..66038c2 100644
--- a/pkg/inspect/inspect_test.go
+++ b/pkg/inspect/inspect_test.go
@@ -5,26 +5,11 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/testutil"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/inspect"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/store"
 )
 
-func openTestStore(t *testing.T) *store.Store {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	st, err := store.Open(":memory:")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
-	return st
-}
-
 func testNode(id, parent, nodeType string) *store.Node {
 	return &store.Node{
 		ID: id, ParentID: parent,
@@ -35,7 +20,7 @@ func testNode(id, parent, nodeType string) *store.Node {
 }
 
 func TestCollect_Empty(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestStore(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	s, err := inspect.Collect(ctx, st)
@@ -52,7 +37,7 @@ func TestCollect_Empty(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCollect_PopulatesAllFields(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestStore(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	n1 := testNode("aaaaaaaa", "", "heading")
@@ -113,7 +98,7 @@ func TestCollect_PopulatesAllFields(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCollect_RelationCountIncludesPending(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestStore(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	for _, n := range []*store.Node{
diff --git a/pkg/mcp/resources/doctor_test.go b/pkg/mcp/resources/doctor_test.go
index efa97aa..d04d66f 100644
--- a/pkg/mcp/resources/doctor_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mcp/resources/doctor_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/testutil"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/doctor"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/store"
 )
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ func assertCLIParity(t *testing.T, st *store.Store, got map[string]any, wantStat
 }
 
 func TestHandleDoctor_PassParity(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openGraphStore(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	d := &Deps{Store: st}
 
 	got := readDoctor(t, d)
@@ -68,18 +69,7 @@ func TestHandleDoctor_PassParity(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHandleDoctor_WarnParity(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := t.TempDir()
-	path := filepath.Join(dir, "doctor.db")
-
-	st, err := store.Open(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
+	st, path := testutil.OpenTestDBFile(t)
 
 	// A snapshot whose compile_root no longer exists trips stale_compile_root → warn.
 	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", path)
@@ -88,7 +78,7 @@ func TestHandleDoctor_WarnParity(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	defer func() { _ = db.Close() }()
-	gone := filepath.Join(dir, "vanished")
+	gone := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(path), "vanished")
 	if _, err := db.Exec(
 		`INSERT INTO snapshots (cursor_hash, parent_id, message, compile_root) VALUES ('h', NULL, 'm', ?)`,
 		gone,
diff --git a/pkg/mcp/resources/graph_test.go b/pkg/mcp/resources/graph_test.go
index ced6721..c98668b 100644
--- a/pkg/mcp/resources/graph_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mcp/resources/graph_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/testutil"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/store"
 )
 
@@ -16,25 +17,9 @@ func graphNode_(id string) *store.Node {
 	}
 }
 
-func openGraphStore(t *testing.T) *store.Store {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	st, err := store.Open(":memory:")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
-
-	return st
-}
-
 // Fixture: parsed n1→n2, manual n2→n3, pending n1→"Unresolved"; n4 is orphan.
 func TestHandleGraph_ParsedManualPending(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openGraphStore(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	for _, id := range []string{"aaaaaaaaaa1", "bbbbbbbbbb1", "cccccccccc1", "dddddddddd1"} {
@@ -107,7 +92,7 @@ func TestHandleGraph_ParsedManualPending(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHandleGraph_EmptyDBStableShape(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openGraphStore(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	d := &Deps{Store: st}
 
 	body, err := d.graphBody(context.Background())
diff --git a/pkg/mcp/tools/tools_test.go b/pkg/mcp/tools/tools_test.go
index f4e88d5..8dc0dfa 100644
--- a/pkg/mcp/tools/tools_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mcp/tools/tools_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 	gomcp "github.com/modelcontextprotocol/go-sdk/mcp"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/redaction"
+	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/testutil"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/compiler"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/query"
@@ -23,15 +24,7 @@ import (
 func setup(t *testing.T) (*Deps, *store.Store) {
 	t.Helper()
 
-	st, err := store.Open(":memory:")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 
 	tracker, err := temperature.NewTracker(st, "", temperature.DefaultConfig(), nil)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/relations/resolver_test.go b/pkg/relations/resolver_test.go
index 033077c..6af595b 100644
--- a/pkg/relations/resolver_test.go
+++ b/pkg/relations/resolver_test.go
@@ -4,26 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/internal/testutil"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/parser"
 	"github.com/radimsem/remindb/pkg/store"
 )
 
-func openTestDB(t *testing.T) *store.Store {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	st, err := store.Open(":memory:")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
-
-	return st
-}
-
 func mustHeading(t *testing.T, st *store.Store, id, sourceFile, label string, depth int) *store.Node {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -45,7 +30,7 @@ func mustHeading(t *testing.T, st *store.Store, id, sourceFile, label string, de
 }
 
 func TestResolve_ByIDHint_Hit(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -62,7 +47,7 @@ func TestResolve_ByIDHint_Hit(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Per spec: missing IDHint does NOT fall back to label.
 func TestResolve_ByIDHint_MissNoFallback(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -81,7 +66,7 @@ func TestResolve_ByIDHint_MissNoFallback(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolve_ByLabel(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -97,7 +82,7 @@ func TestResolve_ByLabel(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolve_ByLabel_CaseInsensitive(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -115,7 +100,7 @@ func TestResolve_ByLabel_CaseInsensitive(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolve_ByLabel_OnlyHeadings(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -145,7 +130,7 @@ func TestResolve_ByLabel_OnlyHeadings(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolve_BySourceAndLabel(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -166,7 +151,7 @@ func TestResolve_BySourceAndLabel(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Suffix match: user provides "docs/x.md" and source_file is the absolute "/abs/docs/x.md".
 func TestResolve_BySourceQual_SuffixMatch(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -181,7 +166,7 @@ func TestResolve_BySourceQual_SuffixMatch(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolve_BySourceQual_MissNoFallback(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -199,7 +184,7 @@ func TestResolve_BySourceQual_MissNoFallback(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestResolve_EmptyRefReturnsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 
 	got, err := r.Resolve(context.Background(), parser.WikilinkRef{})
@@ -213,7 +198,7 @@ func TestResolve_EmptyRefReturnsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Disambiguation: same label in multiple files picks the lowest source_file first.
 func TestResolve_ByLabel_DisambiguationBySourceFile(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	r := New(st)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -229,7 +214,7 @@ func TestResolve_ByLabel_DisambiguationBySourceFile(t *testing.T) {
 
 // End-to-end: Run() phase 1 emits a relation row for a resolved ref.
 func TestRun_Phase1_Hit(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	src := mustHeading(t, st, "src11111111", "x.md", "Source", 1)
@@ -259,7 +244,7 @@ func TestRun_Phase1_Hit(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Phase 1 miss → pending row gets inserted with origin=parsed.
 func TestRun_Phase1_Miss_GoesPending(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	src := mustHeading(t, st, "src11111111", "x.md", "Source", 1)
@@ -284,7 +269,7 @@ func TestRun_Phase1_Miss_GoesPending(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Recompiling the same source clears stale parsed pending entries first.
 func TestRun_Phase1_ClearsStaleParsedPending(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	src := mustHeading(t, st, "src11111111", "x.md", "Source", 1)
@@ -323,7 +308,7 @@ func TestRun_Phase1_ClearsStaleParsedPending(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Phase 2: a previously-pending row resolves on the next compile.
 func TestRun_Phase2_RetriesPendingAndMoves(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	src := mustHeading(t, st, "src11111111", "x.md", "Source", 1)
@@ -362,7 +347,7 @@ func TestRun_Phase2_RetriesPendingAndMoves(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Manual pending rows survive phase 1 (which only clears parsed pending).
 func TestRun_Phase1_DoesNotTouchManualPending(t *testing.T) {
-	st := openTestDB(t)
+	st := testutil.OpenTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	src := mustHeading(t, st, "src11111111", "x.md", "Source", 1)
diff --git a/pkg/store/doctor_test.go b/pkg/store/doctor_test.go
index 94236ea..2895e9c 100644
--- a/pkg/store/doctor_test.go
+++ b/pkg/store/doctor_test.go
@@ -8,21 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-func newDoctorStore(t *testing.T) *Store {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	st, err := Open(":memory:")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Open: %v", err)
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = st.Close() })
-
-	if err := st.Migrate(context.Background()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Migrate: %v", err)
-	}
-	return st
-}
-
 func insertNodeRaw(t *testing.T, st *Store, id, parentID string) {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -41,7 +26,7 @@ func insertNodeRaw(t *testing.T, st *Store, id, parentID string) {
 }
 
 func TestCountsOnFreshDB(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	for _, tc := range []struct {
@@ -65,7 +50,7 @@ func TestCountsOnFreshDB(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFTSIntegrityCheckPassesOnFreshDB(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	insertNodeRaw(t, st, "n0000000001", "")
@@ -77,7 +62,7 @@ func TestFTSIntegrityCheckPassesOnFreshDB(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRebuildFTSResolvesIntegrityFailure(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	insertNodeRaw(t, st, "n0000000001", "")
@@ -105,7 +90,7 @@ func TestRebuildFTSResolvesIntegrityFailure(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPromoteOrphansToRoots(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	if _, err := st.db.Exec(`PRAGMA foreign_keys=OFF`); err != nil {
@@ -140,7 +125,7 @@ func TestPromoteOrphansToRoots(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDeleteDanglingDiffs(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	if _, err := st.db.Exec(`PRAGMA foreign_keys=OFF`); err != nil {
@@ -173,7 +158,7 @@ func TestDeleteDanglingDiffs(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRepointHeadCursorEmptySnapshots(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	if _, err := st.db.Exec(`PRAGMA foreign_keys=OFF`); err != nil {
@@ -206,7 +191,7 @@ func TestRepointHeadCursorEmptySnapshots(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRepointHeadCursorWithSnapshots(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	if _, err := st.db.Exec(`INSERT INTO snapshots (cursor_hash) VALUES ('hash1'), ('hash2'), ('hash3')`); err != nil {
@@ -253,7 +238,7 @@ func TestEmbeddedMigrationVersions(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestAppliedMatchesEmbedded(t *testing.T) {
-	st := newDoctorStore(t)
+	st := openTestDB(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
 	applied, err := st.AppliedMigrationVersions(ctx)