diff --git a/app/core/_secrets.py b/app/core/_secrets.py
index 989f8af..54902bb 100644
--- a/app/core/_secrets.py
+++ b/app/core/_secrets.py
@@ -41,15 +41,20 @@ def _init_seed_via_db() -> bytes:
 
     # Wait for table to exist
     start = time.time()
-    with engine.connect() as conn:
-        while not db_ready(conn):
-            time.sleep(0.5)
-            if time.time() - start > 120:
-                raise TimeoutError("service_config table not available")
+    # Wait for table existence, reconnecting to avoid stale transactions
+    while True:
+        with engine.connect() as conn:
+            if db_ready(conn):
+                break
+        time.sleep(0.5)
+        if time.time() - start > 120:
+            raise TimeoutError("service_config table not available")
 
-        def read_seed() -> Optional[bytes]:
-            try:
-                with Session(bind=conn) as s:
+    def read_seed() -> Optional[bytes]:
+        # Use a fresh connection/session per read to avoid snapshot staleness
+        try:
+            with engine.connect() as rconn:
+                with Session(bind=rconn) as s:
                     row = s.query(ServiceConfigValue).filter(ServiceConfigValue.key == 'private_key').first()
                     if not row:
                         return None
@@ -58,8 +63,8 @@ def _init_seed_via_db() -> bytes:
                         packed = json.loads(packed)
                     seed_hex = packed.get('value')
                     return bytes.fromhex(seed_hex) if seed_hex else None
-            except Exception:
-                return None
+        except Exception:
+            return None
 
         seed = read_seed()
         if seed:
@@ -69,16 +74,13 @@ def _init_seed_via_db() -> bytes:
             seed = _load_seed_from_env_or_generate()
             # Try insert; if another primary raced, ignore
             try:
-                with Session(bind=conn) as s:
-                    s.add(ServiceConfigValue(key='private_key', packed_value={"value": seed.hex()}))
-                    s.commit()
+                with engine.connect() as wconn:
+                    with Session(bind=wconn) as s:
+                        s.add(ServiceConfigValue(key='private_key', packed_value={"value": seed.hex()}))
+                        s.commit()
                 make_log("HotWallet", "Seed saved in service_config by primary", level='info')
                 return seed
             except Exception:
-                try:
-                    conn.rollback()
-                except Exception:
-                    pass
                 # Read again in case of race
                 seed2 = read_seed()
                 if seed2: