diff --git a/backend/auth.py b/backend/auth.py
index 21b0042..936628b 100644
--- a/backend/auth.py
+++ b/backend/auth.py
@@ -121,17 +121,22 @@ def require_admin(x_auth_token: Optional[str] = Header(default=None)):
 # Feature Access Control (v9c)
 # ============================================================================
 
-def get_effective_tier(profile_id: str) -> str:
+def get_effective_tier(profile_id: str, conn=None) -> str:
     """
     Get the effective tier for a profile.
 
     Checks for active access_grants first (from coupons, trials, etc.),
     then falls back to profile.tier.
 
+    Args:
+        profile_id: User profile ID
+        conn: Optional existing DB connection (to avoid pool exhaustion)
+
     Returns:
         tier_id (str): 'free', 'basic', 'premium', or 'selfhosted'
     """
-    with get_db() as conn:
+    # Use existing connection if provided, otherwise open new one
+    if conn:
         cur = get_cursor(conn)
 
         # Check for active access grants (highest priority)
@@ -154,9 +159,13 @@ def get_effective_tier(profile_id: str) -> str:
         cur.execute("SELECT tier FROM profiles WHERE id = %s", (profile_id,))
         profile = cur.fetchone()
         return profile['tier'] if profile else 'free'
+    else:
+        # Open new connection if none provided
+        with get_db() as conn:
+            return get_effective_tier(profile_id, conn)
 
 
-def check_feature_access(profile_id: str, feature_id: str) -> dict:
+def check_feature_access(profile_id: str, feature_id: str, conn=None) -> dict:
     """
     Check if a profile has access to a feature.
 
@@ -165,6 +174,11 @@ def check_feature_access(profile_id: str, feature_id: str) -> dict:
     2. Tier limit (tier_limits)
     3. Feature default (features.default_limit)
 
+    Args:
+        profile_id: User profile ID
+        feature_id: Feature ID to check
+        conn: Optional existing DB connection (to avoid pool exhaustion)
+
     Returns:
         dict: {
             'allowed': bool,
@@ -174,8 +188,17 @@ def check_feature_access(profile_id: str, feature_id: str) -> dict:
             'reason': str  # 'unlimited', 'within_limit', 'limit_exceeded', 'feature_disabled'
         }
     """
-    with get_db() as conn:
-        cur = get_cursor(conn)
+    # Use existing connection if provided
+    if conn:
+        return _check_impl(profile_id, feature_id, conn)
+    else:
+        with get_db() as conn:
+            return _check_impl(profile_id, feature_id, conn)
+
+
+def _check_impl(profile_id: str, feature_id: str, conn) -> dict:
+    """Internal implementation of check_feature_access."""
+    cur = get_cursor(conn)
 
         # Get feature info
         cur.execute("""
@@ -206,7 +229,7 @@ def check_feature_access(profile_id: str, feature_id: str) -> dict:
             limit = restriction['limit_value']
         else:
             # Priority 2: Check tier limit
-            tier_id = get_effective_tier(profile_id)
+            tier_id = get_effective_tier(profile_id, conn)
             cur.execute("""
                 SELECT limit_value
                 FROM tier_limits
diff --git a/backend/routers/features.py b/backend/routers/features.py
index 69766aa..228315a 100644
--- a/backend/routers/features.py
+++ b/backend/routers/features.py
@@ -187,7 +187,8 @@ def get_feature_usage(x_profile_id: Optional[str]=Header(default=None), session:
         for feature in features:
             # Use existing check_feature_access to get usage and limits
             # This respects user overrides, tier limits, and feature defaults
-            access = check_feature_access(pid, feature['id'])
+            # Pass connection to avoid pool exhaustion
+            access = check_feature_access(pid, feature['id'], conn)
 
             # Get reset date from user_feature_usage
             cur.execute("""