diff --git a/cmd/util/sql_logger.go b/cmd/util/sql_logger.go
index b81c6951..9663b192 100644
--- a/cmd/util/sql_logger.go
+++ b/cmd/util/sql_logger.go
@@ -7,9 +7,16 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pgplex/pgschema/internal/logger"
 )
 
+// execer is an interface satisfied by both *sql.DB and *sql.Conn,
+// allowing ExecContextWithLogging to work with either.
+type execer interface {
+	ExecContext(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (sql.Result, error)
+}
+
 // ExecContextWithLogging executes SQL with debug logging if debug mode is enabled.
 // It logs the SQL statement before execution and the result/error after execution.
-func ExecContextWithLogging(ctx context.Context, db *sql.DB, sqlStmt string, description string) (sql.Result, error) {
+// It accepts both *sql.DB and *sql.Conn via the execer interface.
+func ExecContextWithLogging(ctx context.Context, db execer, sqlStmt string, description string) (sql.Result, error) {
 	isDebug := logger.IsDebug()
 	if isDebug {
 		logger.Get().Debug("Executing SQL", "description", description, "sql", sqlStmt)
diff --git a/internal/postgres/embedded.go b/internal/postgres/embedded.go
index 8a26f9b9..93b8fc50 100644
--- a/internal/postgres/embedded.go
+++ b/internal/postgres/embedded.go
@@ -191,22 +191,32 @@ func (ep *EmbeddedPostgres) GetSchemaName() string {
 // This ensures a clean state before applying the desired schema definition.
 // Note: The schema parameter is ignored - we always use the temporary schema name.
 func (ep *EmbeddedPostgres) ApplySchema(ctx context.Context, schema string, sql string) error {
+	// Acquire a single dedicated connection to ensure SET search_path affects
+	// all subsequent statements. Using *sql.DB (connection pool) does not
+	// guarantee the same connection across ExecContext calls, so session-scoped
+	// settings like search_path may be lost.
+	conn, err := ep.db.Conn(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to acquire connection: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
 	// Drop the temporary schema if it exists (CASCADE to drop all objects)
 	dropSchemaSQL := fmt.Sprintf("DROP SCHEMA IF EXISTS \"%s\" CASCADE", ep.tempSchema)
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ep.db, dropSchemaSQL, "drop temporary schema"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, dropSchemaSQL, "drop temporary schema"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to drop temporary schema %s: %w", ep.tempSchema, err)
 	}
 
 	// Create the temporary schema
 	createSchemaSQL := fmt.Sprintf("CREATE SCHEMA \"%s\"", ep.tempSchema)
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ep.db, createSchemaSQL, "create temporary schema"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, createSchemaSQL, "create temporary schema"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temporary schema %s: %w", ep.tempSchema, err)
 	}
 
 	// Set search_path to the temporary schema, with public as fallback
 	// for resolving extension types installed in public schema (issue #197)
 	setSearchPathSQL := fmt.Sprintf("SET search_path TO \"%s\", public", ep.tempSchema)
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ep.db, setSearchPathSQL, "set search_path for desired state"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, setSearchPathSQL, "set search_path for desired state"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set search_path: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -227,7 +237,7 @@ func (ep *EmbeddedPostgres) ApplySchema(ctx context.Context, schema string, sql
 	// Execute the SQL directly
 	// Note: Desired state SQL should never contain operations like CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY
 	// that cannot run in transactions. Those are migration details, not state declarations.
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ep.db, schemaAgnosticSQL, "apply desired state SQL to temporary schema"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, schemaAgnosticSQL, "apply desired state SQL to temporary schema"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to apply schema SQL to temporary schema %s: %w", ep.tempSchema, err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/postgres/external.go b/internal/postgres/external.go
index 0837a3f7..16ce63a3 100644
--- a/internal/postgres/external.go
+++ b/internal/postgres/external.go
@@ -108,16 +108,26 @@ func (ed *ExternalDatabase) ApplySchema(ctx context.Context, schema string, sql
 	// Note: We use the temporary schema name (ed.tempSchema) instead of the user-provided schema name
 	// This ensures we don't interfere with existing schemas in the external database
 
+	// Acquire a single dedicated connection to ensure SET search_path affects
+	// all subsequent statements. Using *sql.DB (connection pool) does not
+	// guarantee the same connection across ExecContext calls, so session-scoped
+	// settings like search_path may be lost.
+	conn, err := ed.db.Conn(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to acquire connection: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
 	// Create the temporary schema
 	createSchemaSQL := fmt.Sprintf("CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS \"%s\"", ed.tempSchema)
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ed.db, createSchemaSQL, "create temporary schema"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, createSchemaSQL, "create temporary schema"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create temporary schema %s: %w", ed.tempSchema, err)
 	}
 
 	// Set search_path to the temporary schema, with public as fallback
 	// for resolving extension types installed in public schema (issue #197)
 	setSearchPathSQL := fmt.Sprintf("SET search_path TO \"%s\", public", ed.tempSchema)
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ed.db, setSearchPathSQL, "set search_path for desired state"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, setSearchPathSQL, "set search_path for desired state"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to set search_path: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -138,7 +148,7 @@ func (ed *ExternalDatabase) ApplySchema(ctx context.Context, schema string, sql
 	// Execute the SQL directly
 	// Note: Desired state SQL should never contain operations like CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY
 	// that cannot run in transactions. Those are migration details, not state declarations.
-	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, ed.db, schemaAgnosticSQL, "apply desired state SQL to temporary schema"); err != nil {
+	if _, err := util.ExecContextWithLogging(ctx, conn, schemaAgnosticSQL, "apply desired state SQL to temporary schema"); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to apply schema SQL to temporary schema %s: %w", ed.tempSchema, err)
 	}