diff --git a/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/base.py b/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/base.py
index 5e6738857d9..77f4d58370f 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/base.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/base.py
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ def get_url_string(engine: Engine) -> str:
 
 
 def load_metadata(metadata: MetaData, engine: Engine) -> None:
-    with engine.connect() as conn:
+    with engine.begin() as conn:
         metadata.create_all(bind=conn)
 
 
diff --git a/test/unit/data/model/migrations/test_migrations.py b/test/unit/data/model/migrations/test_migrations.py
index 51cba45265a..832b4c50488 100644
--- a/test/unit/data/model/migrations/test_migrations.py
+++ b/test/unit/data/model/migrations/test_migrations.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class TestDatabaseStateCache:
         with create_and_drop_database(db_url):
             with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
                 assert DatabaseStateCache(engine).is_database_empty()
-                with engine.connect() as conn:
+                with engine.begin() as conn:
                     metadata.create_all(bind=conn)
                 assert not DatabaseStateCache(engine).is_database_empty()
 
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class TestDatabaseStateCache:
         with create_and_drop_database(db_url):
             with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
                 assert not DatabaseStateCache(engine).has_alembic_version_table()
-                with engine.connect() as conn:
+                with engine.begin() as conn:
                     metadata.create_all(bind=conn)
                 assert DatabaseStateCache(engine).has_alembic_version_table()
 
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ class TestDatabaseStateCache:
         with create_and_drop_database(db_url):
             with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
                 assert not DatabaseStateCache(engine).has_sqlalchemymigrate_version_table()
-                with engine.connect() as conn:
+                with engine.begin() as conn:
                     metadata.create_all(bind=conn)
                 assert DatabaseStateCache(engine).has_sqlalchemymigrate_version_table()
 
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ class TestDatabaseStateCache:
         with create_and_drop_database(db_url):
             with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
                 assert DatabaseStateCache(engine).is_database_empty()
-                with engine.connect() as conn:
+                with engine.begin() as conn:
                     metadata.create_all(bind=conn)
                 assert not DatabaseStateCache(engine).is_database_empty()
                 assert DatabaseStateCache(engine).contains_only_kombu_tables()
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ def _get_paths_to_version_locations():
 
 def load_sqlalchemymigrate_version(db_url, version):
     with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
+        with engine.begin() as conn:
             sql_delete = text(f"delete from {SQLALCHEMYMIGRATE_TABLE}")  # there can be only 1 row
             sql_insert = text(f"insert into {SQLALCHEMYMIGRATE_TABLE} values('_', '_', {version})")
             conn.execute(sql_delete)
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ def test_load_sqlalchemymigrate_version(url_factory, metadata_state2_gxy):  # no
             load_metadata(metadata_state2_gxy, engine)
             sql = text(f"select version from {SQLALCHEMYMIGRATE_TABLE}")
             version = 42
-            with engine.connect() as conn:
+            with engine.begin() as conn:
                 result = conn.execute(sql).scalar()
                 assert result != version
                 load_sqlalchemymigrate_version(db_url, version)
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ def database_is_empty_or_contains_kombu_tables(db_url):
     (ref: https://github.com/galaxyproject/galaxy/issues/13689)
     """
     with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
+        with engine.begin() as conn:
             metadata = MetaData()
             metadata.reflect(bind=conn)
             return not bool(metadata.tables) or metadata_contains_only_kombu_tables(metadata)
@@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ def is_metadata_loaded(db_url, metadata):
     # True if the set of tables from the up-to-date state metadata (state6)
     # is a subset of the metadata reflected from `db_url`.
     with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
+        with engine.begin() as conn:
             db_metadata = MetaData()
             db_metadata.reflect(bind=conn)
             tables = _get_tablenames(metadata)
@@ -885,7 +885,7 @@ def test_is_metadata_loaded(url_factory, metadata_state1_gxy):  # noqa F811
     with create_and_drop_database(db_url):
         assert not is_metadata_loaded(db_url, metadata)
         with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
-            with engine.connect() as conn:
+            with engine.begin() as conn:
                 metadata.create_all(bind=conn)
         assert is_metadata_loaded(db_url, metadata)
 
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ def test_is_multiple_metadata_loaded(url_factory, metadata_state1_gxy, metadata_
     with create_and_drop_database(db_url):
         assert not is_metadata_loaded(db_url, metadata)
         with disposing_engine(db_url) as engine:
-            with engine.connect() as conn:
+            with engine.begin() as conn:
                 metadata_state1_gxy.create_all(bind=conn)
                 metadata_state1_tsi.create_all(bind=conn)
         assert is_metadata_loaded(db_url, metadata)