diff --git a/src/core/db.ts b/src/core/db.ts
index 36b4a6c..69f8ecd 100644
--- a/src/core/db.ts
+++ b/src/core/db.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,13 @@ export async function disconnect(): Promise<void> {
 
 export async function initSchema(): Promise<void> {
   const conn = getConnection();
-  await conn.unsafe(SCHEMA_SQL);
+  // Advisory lock prevents concurrent initSchema() calls from deadlocking
+  await conn`SELECT pg_advisory_lock(42)`;
+  try {
+    await conn.unsafe(SCHEMA_SQL);
+  } finally {
+    await conn`SELECT pg_advisory_unlock(42)`;
+  }
 }
 
 export async function withTransaction<T>(fn: (tx: ReturnType<typeof postgres>) => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
diff --git a/src/core/postgres-engine.ts b/src/core/postgres-engine.ts
index eb9ca7c..c1332f6 100644
--- a/src/core/postgres-engine.ts
+++ b/src/core/postgres-engine.ts
@@ -57,12 +57,19 @@ export class PostgresEngine implements BrainEngine {
 
   async initSchema(): Promise<void> {
     const conn = this.sql;
-    await conn.unsafe(SCHEMA_SQL);
+    // Advisory lock prevents concurrent initSchema() calls from deadlocking
+    // on DDL statements (DROP TRIGGER + CREATE TRIGGER acquire AccessExclusiveLock)
+    await conn`SELECT pg_advisory_lock(42)`;
+    try {
+      await conn.unsafe(SCHEMA_SQL);
 
-    // Run any pending migrations automatically
-    const { applied } = await runMigrations(this);
-    if (applied > 0) {
-      console.log(`  ${applied} migration(s) applied`);
+      // Run any pending migrations automatically
+      const { applied } = await runMigrations(this);
+      if (applied > 0) {
+        console.log(`  ${applied} migration(s) applied`);
+      }
+    } finally {
+      await conn`SELECT pg_advisory_unlock(42)`;
     }
   }