diff --git a/codex-rs/state/src/runtime.rs b/codex-rs/state/src/runtime.rs
index dcb472022..541e02ad3 100644
--- a/codex-rs/state/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/state/src/runtime.rs
@@ -1272,7 +1272,6 @@ WHERE id = 1
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    #[ignore = "TODO(jif): flaky"]
     async fn stage1_concurrent_claims_respect_running_cap() {
         let codex_home = unique_temp_dir();
         let runtime = StateRuntime::init(codex_home.clone(), "test-provider".to_string(), None)
diff --git a/codex-rs/state/src/runtime/memories.rs b/codex-rs/state/src/runtime/memories.rs
index e32162221..def408c6e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/state/src/runtime/memories.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/state/src/runtime/memories.rs
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ LIMIT ?
         let thread_id = thread_id.to_string();
         let worker_id = worker_id.to_string();
 
-        let mut tx = self.pool.begin().await?;
+        let mut tx = self.pool.begin_with("BEGIN IMMEDIATE").await?;
 
         let existing_output = sqlx::query(
             r#"
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ WHERE kind = ? AND job_key = ?
         let ownership_token = Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
         let worker_id = worker_id.to_string();
 
-        let mut tx = self.pool.begin().await?;
+        let mut tx = self.pool.begin_with("BEGIN IMMEDIATE").await?;
 
         let existing_job = sqlx::query(
             r#"