diff --git a/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/ViewModels/ProjectSessionsViewModel.swift b/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/ViewModels/ProjectSessionsViewModel.swift
index 8d6a56c..8d20a8b 100644
--- a/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/ViewModels/ProjectSessionsViewModel.swift
+++ b/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/ViewModels/ProjectSessionsViewModel.swift
@@ -51,6 +51,17 @@ final class ProjectSessionsViewModel {
             return
         }
 
+        // Open (or re-open for remote) the DB handle before querying.
+        // `HermesDataService` is an actor with a lazily-initialised
+        // SQLite pointer; every query method short-circuits to `[]`
+        // when `db == nil`. This VM constructs its own service
+        // instance (separate from ChatViewModel / InsightsVM /
+        // ActivityVM), so we have to open it ourselves. Same
+        // pattern used by those other VMs (`refresh()` rather than
+        // `open()` because refresh also re-pulls the remote-server
+        // snapshot on each call — local is a cheap no-op).
+        _ = await dataService.refresh()
+
         // Fetch a generous page; we filter client-side by attribution
         // map membership. The 200 ceiling matches other feature VMs
         // (ActivityViewModel, InsightsViewModel). HermesDataService
@@ -73,4 +84,13 @@ final class ProjectSessionsViewModel {
             emptyStateHint = nil
         }
     }
+
+    /// Release the underlying DB handle. Safe to call repeatedly; the
+    /// service re-opens on the next `load()`. Mirrors the pattern in
+    /// ActivityViewModel.swift:80 — view calls this on `.onDisappear`
+    /// so file descriptors and the SQLite cache don't dangle once
+    /// the tab isn't visible.
+    func close() async {
+        await dataService.close()
+    }
 }
diff --git a/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/Views/ProjectSessionsView.swift b/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/Views/ProjectSessionsView.swift
index 3440fef..cd5ea2f 100644
--- a/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/Views/ProjectSessionsView.swift
+++ b/scarf/scarf/Features/Projects/Views/ProjectSessionsView.swift
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ struct ProjectSessionsView: View {
         .onChange(of: fileWatcher.lastChangeDate) {
             Task { await viewModel?.load() }
         }
+        .onDisappear {
+            // Release the SQLite handle so it doesn't dangle once
+            // the user leaves this tab. `load()` will re-open next
+            // time. Mirrors ActivityView's disappear cleanup.
+            Task { await viewModel?.close() }
+        }
     }
 
     // MARK: - Header