diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/commands-uok.js b/src/resources/extensions/sf/commands-uok.js
index 50a8ced79..eb4e39234 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/commands-uok.js
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/commands-uok.js
@@ -45,9 +45,7 @@ export async function collectUokStatus(
 	basePath = process.cwd(),
 	nowMs = Date.now(),
 ) {
-	if (!isDbAvailable()) {
-		await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
-	}
+	await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
 	const dbAvailable = isDbAvailable();
 	let runs = [];
 	if (dbAvailable) {
@@ -227,9 +225,7 @@ export async function handleUok(args, ctx) {
 	}
 	if (trimmed === "circuit-breakers" || trimmed === "circuit_breakers") {
 		const basePath = process.cwd();
-		if (!isDbAvailable()) {
-			await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
-		}
+		await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
 		if (!isDbAvailable()) {
 			ctx.ui.notify("Database unavailable", "error");
 			return;
@@ -256,9 +252,7 @@ export async function handleUok(args, ctx) {
 	}
 	if (trimmed === "gates") {
 		const basePath = process.cwd();
-		if (!isDbAvailable()) {
-			await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
-		}
+		await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
 		if (!isDbAvailable()) {
 			ctx.ui.notify("Database unavailable", "error");
 			return;
@@ -280,9 +274,7 @@ export async function handleUok(args, ctx) {
 	}
 	if (trimmed === "messages" || trimmed.startsWith("messages ")) {
 		const basePath = process.cwd();
-		if (!isDbAvailable()) {
-			await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
-		}
+		await ensureDbOpen(basePath);
 		if (!isDbAvailable()) {
 			ctx.ui.notify("Database unavailable", "error");
 			return;
diff --git a/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/uok-status-command.test.mjs b/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/uok-status-command.test.mjs
index 48de0ffeb..766f5b4ad 100644
--- a/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/uok-status-command.test.mjs
+++ b/src/resources/extensions/sf/tests/uok-status-command.test.mjs
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ import {
 
 const NOW = Date.parse("2026-05-06T00:00:00.000Z");
 const tmpRoots = [];
+const originalCwd = process.cwd();
 
 afterEach(() => {
+	process.chdir(originalCwd);
 	closeDatabase();
 	for (const dir of tmpRoots.splice(0)) {
 		rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ function makeProject() {
 
 test("collectUokStatus_reads_ledger_and_reports_clear_startup_gate", async () => {
 	const projectRoot = makeProject();
-	openDatabase(":memory:");
+	openDatabase(join(projectRoot, ".sf", "sf.db"));
 	recordUokRunStart({
 		runId: "uok-status-ok",
 		sessionId: "session-uok",
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ test("collectUokStatus_reads_ledger_and_reports_clear_startup_gate", async () =>
 
 test("collectUokStatus_reports_last_error_and_blocked_startup_gate", async () => {
 	const projectRoot = makeProject();
-	openDatabase(":memory:");
+	openDatabase(join(projectRoot, ".sf", "sf.db"));
 	recordUokRunStart({
 		runId: "uok-status-error",
 		path: "uok-kernel",
@@ -90,6 +92,29 @@ test("collectUokStatus_reports_last_error_and_blocked_startup_gate", async () =>
 	assert.deepEqual(status.current.criticalMismatches, 1);
 });
 
+test("collectUokStatus_when_process_switches_projects_reads_requested_project_db", async () => {
+	const first = makeProject();
+	const second = makeProject();
+	openDatabase(join(first, ".sf", "sf.db"));
+	recordUokRunStart({
+		runId: "first-project-run",
+		path: "uok-kernel",
+		startedAt: new Date(NOW - 20_000).toISOString(),
+	});
+	recordUokRunExit({
+		runId: "first-project-run",
+		path: "uok-kernel",
+		status: "ok",
+		endedAt: new Date(NOW - 10_000).toISOString(),
+	});
+
+	const status = await collectUokStatus(second, NOW);
+
+	assert.equal(status.dbAvailable, true);
+	assert.equal(status.lastRun, null);
+	assert.equal(status.ledgerRunCount, 0);
+});
+
 test("formatUokStatus_shows_operator_fields_without_raw_json", () => {
 	const rendered = formatUokStatus(
 		{
@@ -142,6 +167,8 @@ test("formatUokStatus_shows_operator_fields_without_raw_json", () => {
 });
 
 test("handleUok_gates_when_empty_shows_no_recorded_gate_runs", async () => {
+	const projectRoot = makeProject();
+	process.chdir(projectRoot);
 	const notifications = [];
 	const ctx = {
 		ui: {
@@ -154,7 +181,9 @@ test("handleUok_gates_when_empty_shows_no_recorded_gate_runs", async () => {
 });
 
 test("handleUok_gates_lists_observed_gate_runs", async () => {
-	openDatabase(":memory:");
+	const projectRoot = makeProject();
+	process.chdir(projectRoot);
+	openDatabase(join(projectRoot, ".sf", "sf.db"));
 	insertGateRun({
 		traceId: "trace-gates",
 		turnId: "turn-gates",
@@ -190,8 +219,9 @@ test("handleUok_gates_lists_observed_gate_runs", async () => {
 });
 
 test("handleUok_messages_shows_bus_metrics", async () => {
-	makeProject();
-	openDatabase(":memory:");
+	const projectRoot = makeProject();
+	process.chdir(projectRoot);
+	openDatabase(join(projectRoot, ".sf", "sf.db"));
 	const notifications = [];
 	const ctx = {
 		ui: {