diff --git a/src/pudl/io_managers.py b/src/pudl/io_managers.py
index 5c4db431d4..a8b8512c61 100644
--- a/src/pudl/io_managers.py
+++ b/src/pudl/io_managers.py
@@ -426,9 +426,8 @@ def __init__(
 
         super().__init__(base_dir, db_name, md, timeout)
 
-        with self.engine.connect() as conn:
-            existing_schema_context = MigrationContext.configure(conn)
-            metadata_diff = compare_metadata(existing_schema_context, self.md)
+        existing_schema_context = MigrationContext.configure(self.engine.connect())
+        metadata_diff = compare_metadata(existing_schema_context, self.md)
         if metadata_diff:
             logger.info(f"Metadata diff:\n\n{metadata_diff}")
             raise RuntimeError(