diff --git a/sqlspec/base.py b/sqlspec/base.py
index 855432b17..b01efee26 100644
--- a/sqlspec/base.py
+++ b/sqlspec/base.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 # ruff: noqa: PLR6301
+import atexit
+import contextlib
 import re
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from collections.abc import Awaitable
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@
 from sqlspec.exceptions import NotFoundError
 from sqlspec.statement import SQLStatement
 from sqlspec.typing import ModelDTOT, StatementParameterType
+from sqlspec.utils.sync_tools import maybe_async_
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from contextlib import AbstractAsyncContextManager, AbstractContextManager
@@ -202,6 +205,15 @@ class SQLSpec:
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         self._configs: dict[Any, DatabaseConfigProtocol[Any, Any, Any]] = {}
+        # Register the cleanup handler to run at program exit
+        atexit.register(self._cleanup_pools)
+
+    def _cleanup_pools(self) -> None:
+        """Clean up all open database pools at program exit."""
+        for config in self._configs.values():
+            if config.support_connection_pooling and config.pool_instance is not None:
+                with contextlib.suppress(Exception):
+                    maybe_async_(config.close_pool)()
 
     @overload
     def add_config(self, config: "SyncConfigT") -> "type[SyncConfigT]": ...