diff --git a/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py b/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py
index 00c21b2b4443d..fc679015a02db 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/session_recovery.py
@@ -237,6 +237,27 @@ def _disk_space_preflight(
 
 
 def _copy_source_bundle(source: Path, snapshot_dir: Path) -> tuple[Path, list[str]]:
+    """Copy the source DB bundle aside so SQLite never opens the original.
+
+    Refuses when a connection to *source* is live in this process. Copying a
+    database file is an ``open()``/``close()`` on it, and ``close()`` cancels
+    every POSIX advisory lock the process holds on that file -- including a
+    running VACUUM's EXCLUSIVE lock (see ``hermes_cli.sqlite_safe_read``).
+    Recovery normally runs as its own short-lived CLI process against an
+    offline/quarantined file, so this should never fire; the check keeps this
+    path consistent with ``hermes_state._backup_db_file``, which refuses the
+    same situation, rather than leaving two policies for one hazard.
+    """
+    from hermes_cli.sqlite_safe_read import has_live_connection
+
+    if has_live_connection(source):
+        raise SessionRecoverySafetyError(
+            f"Refusing to snapshot {source}: a connection to it is still open "
+            "in this process, and copying the file would cancel that "
+            "connection's POSIX locks. Close all database handles (stop the "
+            "gateway/dashboard) and re-run."
+        )
+
     snapshot_source = snapshot_dir / source.name
     copied: list[str] = []
     for suffix in _SIDECAR_SUFFIXES:
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_recovery.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_recovery.py
index 5dbf3bd35bad8..a16fccf4d7611 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_recovery.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_session_recovery.py
@@ -288,6 +288,35 @@ def _corrupt_middle_table_leaf(
     return leaf_page
 
 
+def test_recovery_refuses_to_snapshot_a_live_database(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Snapshotting must refuse while a connection to the source is live.
+
+    Copying a database file is an open()/close() on it, and close() cancels
+    every POSIX advisory lock the process holds on that file (see
+    hermes_cli.sqlite_safe_read). Recovery normally runs against an offline
+    file, but the check must exist so this path cannot drift away from
+    hermes_state._backup_db_file, which refuses the same situation.
+    """
+    from hermes_cli.sqlite_safe_read import connect_tracked
+
+    source = tmp_path / "live-state.db"
+    output = tmp_path / "recovered.db"
+    _make_source(source)
+
+    live = connect_tracked(source, isolation_level=None)
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(SessionRecoverySafetyError, match="still open"):
+            recover_session_database(source, output, work_dir=tmp_path)
+    finally:
+        live.close()
+
+    assert not output.exists()
+
+    # With the connection closed the same call proceeds normally.
+    report = recover_session_database(source, output, work_dir=tmp_path)
+    assert report["verification"]["integrity_check"] == ["ok"]
+
+
 def test_recovery_rebuilds_canonical_data_without_opening_source(
     tmp_path: Path,
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,