diff --git a/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.test.ts b/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.test.ts
index 60a1d538..bf3bc854 100644
--- a/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.test.ts
+++ b/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.test.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ const sqlMocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
 const database = vi.hoisted(() => {
 	let selected: Record<string, unknown> = { id: 7, title: "Existing" };
 	let selectedQueue: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
+	let selectedTable: string | undefined;
+	let lockedTables: Array<readonly [string | undefined, string]> = [];
 	const insertedValues = vi.fn(async (_values: Record<string, unknown>) => [
 		{ insertId: 8 },
 	]);
@@ -28,9 +30,15 @@ const database = vi.hoisted(() => {
 	const update = vi.fn(() => ({ set }));
 	const nextSelected = () => [selectedQueue.shift() ?? selected];
 	const limit = vi.fn(async () => nextSelected());
-	const lock = vi.fn(async () => nextSelected());
+	const lock = vi.fn(async (strength: string) => {
+		lockedTables.push([selectedTable, strength]);
+		return nextSelected();
+	});
 	const where = vi.fn(() => ({ for: lock, limit }));
-	const from = vi.fn(() => ({ where }));
+	const from = vi.fn((table: unknown) => {
+		selectedTable = (table as { tableName?: string }).tableName;
+		return { where };
+	});
 	const select = vi.fn(() => ({ from }));
 	const execute = vi.fn(async () => undefined);
 	const deleteWhere = vi.fn(async () => undefined);
@@ -40,6 +48,9 @@ const database = vi.hoisted(() => {
 		insert,
 		insertedValues,
 		lock,
+		lockedTables() {
+			return [...lockedTables];
+		},
 		set,
 		update,
 		select,
@@ -53,6 +64,8 @@ const database = vi.hoisted(() => {
 		selected(value: Record<string, unknown>) {
 			selected = value;
 			selectedQueue = [];
+			selectedTable = undefined;
+			lockedTables = [];
 		},
 		queueSelected(...values: Record<string, unknown>[]) {
 			selectedQueue = [...values];
@@ -173,6 +186,7 @@ describe("Content database mutation runtime partial updates", () => {
 			"WebsitePollQuestion",
 			"WebsitePoll",
 		]);
+		expect(database.lockedTables()).toEqual([["WebsitePoll", "update"]]);
 	});
 
 	it("deletes question votes before the question and retains its audit snapshot", async () => {
@@ -202,6 +216,9 @@ describe("Content database mutation runtime partial updates", () => {
 			question: "Favourite colour?",
 		});
 		expect(snapshot?.after).toBeNull();
+		expect(database.lockedTables()).toEqual([
+			["WebsitePollQuestion", "update"],
+		]);
 	});
 
 	it("rejects moving a question to another poll during update", async () => {
@@ -246,6 +263,7 @@ describe("Content database mutation runtime partial updates", () => {
 			expect.objectContaining({ options: "" }),
 		);
 		expect(database.lock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("update");
+		expect(database.lockedTables()).toEqual([["WebsitePoll", "update"]]);
 	});
 
 	it("maps duplicate question options to an options field error", async () => {
@@ -332,6 +350,7 @@ describe("Content database mutation runtime partial updates", () => {
 		]) {
 			expect(values).not.toHaveProperty(omitted);
 		}
+		expect(database.lockedTables()).toEqual([["WebsitePoll", "update"]]);
 	});
 
 	it("rejects question 101 without inserting it", async () => {
@@ -418,6 +437,9 @@ describe("Content database mutation runtime partial updates", () => {
 		);
 
 		expect(database.set).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ options: "Green\nYellow" });
+		expect(database.lockedTables()).toEqual([
+			["WebsitePollQuestion", "update"],
+		]);
 	});
 
 	it("blocks deletion of an event type referenced by an event", async () => {
diff --git a/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.ts b/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.ts
index b9dd75dd..cf202ab1 100644
--- a/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.ts
+++ b/src/features/housekeeping/domains/content/services/mutation-runtime-database.ts
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ async function pollChange(
 		})
 		.from(WebsitePoll)
 		.where(eq(WebsitePoll.id, id))
-		.limit(1);
+		.for("update");
 	if (!existing) throw notFound();
 	if (action === "delete") {
 		await connection
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ async function pollQuestionChange(
 		})
 		.from(WebsitePollQuestion)
 		.where(eq(WebsitePollQuestion.id, id))
-		.limit(1);
+		.for("update");
 	if (!existing) throw notFound();
 	if (action === "delete") {
 		await connection