diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1fe5716a8..f8ca1f0fd 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
     "lexical": "0.13.1",
     "lint-staged": "^14.0.1",
     "minimist": "1.2.8",
-    "mongodb-memory-server": "8.13.0",
+    "mongodb-memory-server": "^9.0",
     "next": "14.2.0-canary.21",
     "node-mocks-http": "^1.14.1",
     "nodemon": "3.0.3",
diff --git a/packages/db-mongodb/src/connect.ts b/packages/db-mongodb/src/connect.ts
index 159cdf51e..284ca2291 100644
--- a/packages/db-mongodb/src/connect.ts
+++ b/packages/db-mongodb/src/connect.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 /* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/no-var-requires */
 import type { ConnectOptions } from 'mongoose'
-import type { Connect } from 'payload/database'
-
 import mongoose from 'mongoose'
+import type { Connect } from 'payload/database'
 
 import type { MongooseAdapter } from './index.js'
 
@@ -37,12 +36,14 @@ export const connect: Connect = async function connect(
 
     const client = this.connection.getClient()
 
+
+
     if (!client.options.replicaSet) {
       this.transactionOptions = false
       this.beginTransaction = undefined
     }
 
-    if (!hotReload) {
+    if (!this.mongoMemoryServer && !hotReload) {
       if (process.env.PAYLOAD_DROP_DATABASE === 'true') {
         this.payload.logger.info('---- DROPPING DATABASE ----')
         await mongoose.connection.dropDatabase()
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ export const connect: Connect = async function connect(
       }
     }
   } catch (err) {
+    console.log(err)
     this.payload.logger.error(`Error: cannot connect to MongoDB. Details: ${err.message}`, err)
     process.exit(1)
   }
diff --git a/packages/db-mongodb/src/destroy.ts b/packages/db-mongodb/src/destroy.ts
index 1fcb8da40..fc62ce08a 100644
--- a/packages/db-mongodb/src/destroy.ts
+++ b/packages/db-mongodb/src/destroy.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,9 @@ import type { MongooseAdapter } from './index.js'
 
 export const destroy: Destroy = async function destroy(this: MongooseAdapter) {
   if (this.mongoMemoryServer) {
-    await mongoose.connection.dropDatabase()
-    await mongoose.connection.close()
-    await this.mongoMemoryServer.stop()
-  } else {
-    await mongoose.disconnect()
+    this.mongoMemoryServer.stop()
   }
+
+  await mongoose.disconnect()
   Object.keys(mongoose.models).map((model) => mongoose.deleteModel(model))
 }
diff --git a/packages/db-mongodb/src/index.ts b/packages/db-mongodb/src/index.ts
index e95e0371d..00b016c33 100644
--- a/packages/db-mongodb/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/db-mongodb/src/index.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import type { TransactionOptions } from 'mongodb'
-import type { ClientSession, ConnectOptions, Connection } from 'mongoose'
+import type { ClientSession, Connection, ConnectOptions } from 'mongoose'
+import mongoose from 'mongoose'
 import type { Payload } from 'payload'
-import type { BaseDatabaseAdapter } from 'payload/database'
+import type { BaseDatabaseAdapter, DatabaseAdapterObj } from 'payload/database'
+import { createDatabaseAdapter } from 'payload/database'
 
 import fs from 'fs'
-import mongoose from 'mongoose'
 import path from 'path'
-import { createDatabaseAdapter } from 'payload/database'
 
 import type { CollectionModel, GlobalModel } from './types.js'
 
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import { updateOne } from './updateOne.js'
 import { updateVersion } from './updateVersion.js'
 
 export type { MigrateDownArgs, MigrateUpArgs } from './types.js'
-import type { DatabaseAdapterObj } from 'payload/database'
 
 export interface Args {
   /** Set to false to disable auto-pluralization of collection names, Defaults to true */
@@ -47,6 +46,10 @@ export interface Args {
     /** Set false to disable $facet aggregation in non-supporting databases, Defaults to true */
     useFacet?: boolean
   }
+  /**
+   * typed as any to avoid dependency
+   */
+  mongoMemoryServer?: any
   /** Set to true to disable hinting to MongoDB to use 'id' as index. This is currently done when counting documents for pagination. Disabling this optimization might fix some problems with AWS DocumentDB. Defaults to false */
   disableIndexHints?: boolean
   migrationDir?: string
@@ -91,6 +94,7 @@ export function mongooseAdapter({
   autoPluralization = true,
   connectOptions,
   disableIndexHints = false,
+  mongoMemoryServer,
   migrationDir: migrationDirArg,
   transactionOptions = {},
   url,
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@ export function mongooseAdapter({
       connection: undefined,
       disableIndexHints,
       globals: undefined,
-      mongoMemoryServer: undefined,
+      mongoMemoryServer,
       sessions: {},
       transactionOptions: transactionOptions === false ? undefined : transactionOptions,
       url,
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 9cf47924a..27f5ecf54 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ overrides:
   dotenv: 8.6.0
   drizzle-orm: 0.29.4
   graphql: ^16.8.1
-  mongodb-memory-server: 8.13.0
+  mongodb-memory-server: ^9.0
   react: ^18.2.0
   react-dom: ^18.2.0
   typescript: 5.2.2
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ importers:
         specifier: 1.2.8
         version: 1.2.8
       mongodb-memory-server:
-        specifier: 8.13.0
-        version: 8.13.0
+        specifier: ^9.0
+        version: 9.1.7
       next:
         specifier: 14.2.0-canary.21
         version: 14.2.0-canary.21(@babel/core@7.24.0)(react-dom@18.2.0)(react@18.2.0)(sass@1.71.1)
@@ -385,8 +385,8 @@ importers:
         specifier: 4.17.1
         version: 4.17.1
       mongodb-memory-server:
-        specifier: 8.13.0
-        version: 8.13.0
+        specifier: ^9.0
+        version: 9.1.7
       payload:
         specifier: workspace:*
         version: link:../payload
@@ -7048,8 +7048,8 @@ packages:
       tslib: 2.6.2
     dev: true
 
-  /async-mutex@0.3.2:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-HuTK7E7MT7jZEh1P9GtRW9+aTWiDWWi9InbZ5hjxrnRa39KS4BW04+xLBhYNS2aXhHUIKZSw3gj4Pn1pj+qGAA==}
+  /async-mutex@0.4.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-WfoBo4E/TbCX1G95XTjbWTE3X2XLG0m1Xbv2cwOtuPdyH9CZvnaA5nCt1ucjaKEgW2A5IF71hxrRhr83Je5xjA==}
     dependencies:
       tslib: 2.6.2
     dev: true
@@ -7113,7 +7113,7 @@ packages:
   /axios@1.4.0:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-S4XCWMEmzvo64T9GfvQDOXgYRDJ/wsSZc7Jvdgx5u1sd0JwsuPLqb3SYmusag+edF6ziyMensPVqLTSc1PiSEA==}
     dependencies:
-      follow-redirects: 1.15.5
+      follow-redirects: 1.15.5(debug@4.3.4)
       form-data: 4.0.0
       proxy-from-env: 1.1.0
     transitivePeerDependencies:
@@ -7395,6 +7395,11 @@ packages:
     dependencies:
       buffer: 5.7.1
 
+  /bson@5.5.1:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-ix0EwukN2EpC0SRWIj/7B5+A6uQMQy6KMREI9qQqvgpkV2frH63T0UDVd1SYedL6dNCmDBYB3QtXi4ISk9YT+g==}
+    engines: {node: '>=14.20.1'}
+    dev: true
+
   /buffer-crc32@0.2.13:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-VO9Ht/+p3SN7SKWqcrgEzjGbRSJYTx+Q1pTQC0wrWqHx0vpJraQ6GtHx8tvcg1rlK1byhU5gccxgOgj7B0TDkQ==}
     dev: true
@@ -10099,7 +10104,7 @@ packages:
       tabbable: 5.3.3
     dev: false
 
-  /follow-redirects@1.15.5:
+  /follow-redirects@1.15.5(debug@4.3.4):
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-vSFWUON1B+yAw1VN4xMfxgn5fTUiaOzAJCKBwIIgT/+7CuGy9+r+5gITvP62j3RmaD5Ph65UaERdOSRGUzZtgw==}
     engines: {node: '>=4.0'}
     peerDependencies:
@@ -10107,7 +10112,8 @@ packages:
     peerDependenciesMeta:
       debug:
         optional: true
-    dev: false
+    dependencies:
+      debug: 4.3.4(supports-color@5.5.0)
 
   /for-each@0.3.3:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-jqYfLp7mo9vIyQf8ykW2v7A+2N4QjeCeI5+Dz9XraiO1ign81wjiH7Fb9vSOWvQfNtmSa4H2RoQTrrXivdUZmw==}
@@ -12276,7 +12282,7 @@ packages:
     dependencies:
       array-includes: 3.1.7
       array.prototype.flat: 1.3.2
-      object.assign: 4.1.4
+      object.assign: 4.1.5
       object.values: 1.1.7
     dev: false
 
@@ -12647,12 +12653,6 @@ packages:
     dependencies:
       tmpl: 1.0.5
 
-  /md5-file@5.0.0:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-xbEFXCYVWrSx/gEKS1VPlg84h/4L20znVIulKw6kMfmBUAZNAnF00eczz9ICMl+/hjQGo5KSXRxbL/47X3rmMw==}
-    engines: {node: '>=10.13.0'}
-    hasBin: true
-    dev: true
-
   /md5@2.3.0:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-T1GITYmFaKuO91vxyoQMFETst+O71VUPEU3ze5GNzDm0OWdP8v1ziTaAEPUr/3kLsY3Sftgz242A1SetQiDL7g==}
     dependencies:
@@ -12851,38 +12851,44 @@ packages:
       '@types/whatwg-url': 8.2.2
       whatwg-url: 11.0.0
 
-  /mongodb-memory-server-core@8.13.0:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-4NTOzYOlRUilwb8CxOKix/XbZmac4cLpmEU03eaHx90lgEp+ARZM2PQtIOEg3nhHo97r9THIEv6Gs4LECokp0Q==}
-    engines: {node: '>=12.22.0'}
+  /mongodb-memory-server-core@9.1.7:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-q8geqCmt5hGuxaDhRo03ZUB0ITr6lnJ3jffdNiC4nDq13WbHUfY2A1RQq3OHDbdrY6aRYvZphx2bcXYBFRis3A==}
+    engines: {node: '>=14.20.1'}
     dependencies:
-      async-mutex: 0.3.2
+      async-mutex: 0.4.1
       camelcase: 6.3.0
       debug: 4.3.4(supports-color@5.5.0)
       find-cache-dir: 3.3.2
-      get-port: 5.1.1
-      https-proxy-agent: 5.0.1
-      md5-file: 5.0.0
-      mongodb: 4.17.1
+      follow-redirects: 1.15.5(debug@4.3.4)
+      https-proxy-agent: 7.0.4
+      mongodb: 5.9.2
       new-find-package-json: 2.0.0
       semver: 7.6.0
-      tar-stream: 2.2.0
+      tar-stream: 3.1.7
       tslib: 2.6.2
-      uuid: 9.0.1
       yauzl: 2.10.0
     transitivePeerDependencies:
-      - aws-crt
+      - '@aws-sdk/credential-providers'
+      - '@mongodb-js/zstd'
+      - kerberos
+      - mongodb-client-encryption
+      - snappy
       - supports-color
     dev: true
 
-  /mongodb-memory-server@8.13.0:
-    resolution: {integrity: sha512-CyrKMwEmRePn8iQ3LtWQiOJxlGK0eM+NNTq3Yg8m7gaywepFu24mF7s13q87Kfuq0WgBuCJQ4t6VcUZJ4m+KWQ==}
-    engines: {node: '>=12.22.0'}
+  /mongodb-memory-server@9.1.7:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-Yxw1cUMoCKTK6jxk4cKG07P+Z/qOmuCVyt3ScIDaoHeOCbOlg2sEtXYO9vEK/tzpj/1KHdDStU2oYrsJ8Fvm0A==}
+    engines: {node: '>=14.20.1'}
     requiresBuild: true
     dependencies:
-      mongodb-memory-server-core: 8.13.0
+      mongodb-memory-server-core: 9.1.7
       tslib: 2.6.2
     transitivePeerDependencies:
-      - aws-crt
+      - '@aws-sdk/credential-providers'
+      - '@mongodb-js/zstd'
+      - kerberos
+      - mongodb-client-encryption
+      - snappy
       - supports-color
     dev: true
 
@@ -12899,6 +12905,34 @@ packages:
     transitivePeerDependencies:
       - aws-crt
 
+  /mongodb@5.9.2:
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-H60HecKO4Bc+7dhOv4sJlgvenK4fQNqqUIlXxZYQNbfEWSALGAwGoyJd/0Qwk4TttFXUOHJ2ZJQe/52ScaUwtQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=14.20.1'}
+    peerDependencies:
+      '@aws-sdk/credential-providers': ^3.188.0
+      '@mongodb-js/zstd': ^1.0.0
+      kerberos: ^1.0.0 || ^2.0.0
+      mongodb-client-encryption: '>=2.3.0 <3'
+      snappy: ^7.2.2
+    peerDependenciesMeta:
+      '@aws-sdk/credential-providers':
+        optional: true
+      '@mongodb-js/zstd':
+        optional: true
+      kerberos:
+        optional: true
+      mongodb-client-encryption:
+        optional: true
+      snappy:
+        optional: true
+    dependencies:
+      bson: 5.5.1
+      mongodb-connection-string-url: 2.6.0
+      socks: 2.8.1
+    optionalDependencies:
+      '@mongodb-js/saslprep': 1.1.4
+    dev: true
+
   /mongoose-aggregate-paginate-v2@1.0.6:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-UuALu+mjhQa1K9lMQvjLL3vm3iALvNw8PQNIh2gp1b+tO5hUa0NC0Wf6/8QrT9PSJVTihXaD8hQVy3J4e0jO0Q==}
     engines: {node: '>=4.0.0'}
diff --git a/test/_community/int.spec.ts b/test/_community/int.spec.ts
index e8aebceaa..065849ce5 100644
--- a/test/_community/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/_community/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ describe('_Community Tests', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/auth/custom-strategy/int.spec.ts b/test/auth/custom-strategy/int.spec.ts
index 593bd0ba9..12d8d4c3d 100644
--- a/test/auth/custom-strategy/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/auth/custom-strategy/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../../startMemoryDB.js'
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ describe('AuthStrategies', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/auth/int.spec.ts b/test/auth/int.spec.ts
index 32f427413..0cb12485c 100644
--- a/test/auth/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/auth/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import jwtDecode from 'jwt-decode'
 
 import type { User } from '../../packages/payload/src/auth/index.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ describe('Auth', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/auth/removed-token/int.spec.ts b/test/auth/removed-token/int.spec.ts
index c94f10501..0bca9d27b 100644
--- a/test/auth/removed-token/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/auth/removed-token/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../../startMemoryDB.js'
-import { collectionSlug } from './config.js'
-import configPromise from './config.js'
+import configPromise, { collectionSlug } from './config.js'
 
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
 let payload: Payload
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@ describe('Remove token from auth responses', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts b/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts
index 9288948ea..04cc34c2f 100644
--- a/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/collections-graphql/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import type { Post } from './payload-types.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { Post } from './payload-types.js'
 import { mapAsync } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/mapAsync.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { idToString } from '../helpers/idToString.js'
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ describe('collections-graphql', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/collections-rest/int.spec.ts b/test/collections-rest/int.spec.ts
index 97f55adbb..86243c8bf 100644
--- a/test/collections-rest/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/collections-rest/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,8 @@
 import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import type { Relation } from './config.js'
-import type { Post } from './payload-types.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import { mapAsync } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/mapAsync.js'
-import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
-import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
+import type { Relation } from './config.js'
 import configPromise, {
   customIdNumberSlug,
   customIdSlug,
@@ -16,6 +11,10 @@ import configPromise, {
   relationSlug,
   slug,
 } from './config.js'
+import type { Post } from './payload-types.js'
+import { mapAsync } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/mapAsync.js'
+import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
+import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
 let payload: Payload
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ describe('collections-rest', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/config/int.spec.ts b/test/config/int.spec.ts
index aa3b17512..78eafe644 100644
--- a/test/config/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/config/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import type { BlockField } from '../../packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -13,6 +12,12 @@ describe('Config', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('payload config', () => {
     it('allows a custom field at the config root', () => {
       const { config } = payload
diff --git a/test/create-payload-app/int.spec.ts b/test/create-payload-app/int.spec.ts
index 717f24fc2..e1256f562 100644
--- a/test/create-payload-app/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/create-payload-app/int.spec.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import { promisify } from 'util'
 
 import { initNext } from '../../packages/create-payload-app/src/lib/init-next.js'
+
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
 
diff --git a/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts b/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts
index 6291cf510..552aab032 100644
--- a/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/custom-graphql/int.spec.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ describe('Custom GraphQL', () => {
     restClient = new NextRESTClient(payload.config)
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('Isolated Transaction ID', () => {
     it('should isolate transaction IDs between queries in the same request', async () => {
       const query = `query {
diff --git a/test/database/int.spec.ts b/test/database/int.spec.ts
index 62613d32a..408b0ff8b 100644
--- a/test/database/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/database/int.spec.ts
@@ -6,15 +6,15 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import type { PostgresAdapter } from '../../packages/db-postgres/src/types.js'
 import type { TypeWithID } from '../../packages/payload/src/collections/config/types.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../packages/payload/src/types/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { PayloadRequest } from '../../packages/payload/src/types/index.js'
 import { commitTransaction } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/commitTransaction.js'
 import { initTransaction } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/initTransaction.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import removeFiles from '../helpers/removeFiles.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
+
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
 
@@ -40,6 +40,13 @@ describe('database', () => {
 
     user = loginResult.user
   })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('migrations', () => {
     beforeAll(async () => {
       if (process.env.PAYLOAD_DROP_DATABASE === 'true' && 'drizzle' in payload.db) {
diff --git a/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts b/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts
index 827e8f34c..5c61b613e 100644
--- a/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/dataloader/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
-import configPromise from './config.js'
-import { postDoc } from './config.js'
+import configPromise, { postDoc } from './config.js'
 
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
 let payload: Payload
@@ -28,6 +26,12 @@ describe('dataloader', () => {
     if (loginResult.token) token = loginResult.token
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('graphql', () => {
     it('should allow querying via graphql', async () => {
       const query = `query {
diff --git a/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts b/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts
index a0d5c5a48..1b8a477f9 100644
--- a/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/endpoints/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { getPayload, type Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -12,15 +12,22 @@ import {
   rootEndpoint,
 } from './shared.js'
 
+let payload: Payload
 let restClient: NextRESTClient
 
 describe('Endpoints', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
-    await getPayload({ config })
+    payload = await getPayload({ config })
     restClient = new NextRESTClient(config)
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('Collections', () => {
     it('should GET a static endpoint', async () => {
       const response = await restClient.GET(`/${collectionSlug}/say-hello/joe-bloggs`)
diff --git a/test/fields/int.spec.ts b/test/fields/int.spec.ts
index 6eefb09f3..e90d88c75 100644
--- a/test/fields/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/fields/int.spec.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@ import type { IndexDirection, IndexOptions } from 'mongoose'
 import type { MongooseAdapter } from '../../packages/db-mongodb/src/index.js'
 import type { PaginatedDocs } from '../../packages/payload/src/database/types.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import type { GroupField, RichTextField } from './payload-types.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { GroupField, RichTextField } from './payload-types.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { isMongoose } from '../helpers/isMongoose.js'
@@ -18,11 +17,7 @@ import { groupDoc } from './collections/Group/shared.js'
 import { defaultNumber } from './collections/Number/index.js'
 import { numberDoc } from './collections/Number/shared.js'
 import { pointDoc } from './collections/Point/shared.js'
-import {
-  localizedTextValue,
-  namedTabDefaultValue,
-  namedTabText,
-} from './collections/Tabs/constants.js'
+import { localizedTextValue, namedTabDefaultValue, namedTabText, } from './collections/Tabs/constants.js'
 import { tabsDoc } from './collections/Tabs/shared.js'
 import { defaultText } from './collections/Text/shared.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -59,6 +54,12 @@ describe('Fields', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   beforeEach(async () => {
     await clearAndSeedEverything(payload)
     await restClient.login({
diff --git a/test/globals/int.spec.ts b/test/globals/int.spec.ts
index 8464d1e5c..15ceffab2 100644
--- a/test/globals/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/globals/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
@@ -21,6 +20,13 @@ describe('globals', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
     restClient = new NextRESTClient(config)
   })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('REST', () => {
     it('should create', async () => {
       const title = 'update'
diff --git a/test/hooks/int.spec.ts b/test/hooks/int.spec.ts
index f6cad200b..de21e6698 100644
--- a/test/hooks/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/hooks/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { NestedAfterReadHook } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { AuthenticationError } from '../../packages/payload/src/errors/index.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser, regularUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
@@ -11,10 +11,7 @@ import { chainingHooksSlug } from './collections/ChainingHooks/index.js'
 import { contextHooksSlug } from './collections/ContextHooks/index.js'
 import { dataHooksSlug } from './collections/Data/index.js'
 import { hooksSlug } from './collections/Hook/index.js'
-import {
-  generatedAfterReadText,
-  nestedAfterReadHooksSlug,
-} from './collections/NestedAfterReadHooks/index.js'
+import { generatedAfterReadText, nestedAfterReadHooksSlug, } from './collections/NestedAfterReadHooks/index.js'
 import { relationsSlug } from './collections/Relations/index.js'
 import { transformSlug } from './collections/Transform/index.js'
 import { hooksUsersSlug } from './collections/Users/index.js'
@@ -33,7 +30,7 @@ describe('Hooks', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts b/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts
index 46d418261..7d9955a8d 100644
--- a/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/live-preview/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { Media, Page, Post, Tenant } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { handleMessage } from '../../packages/live-preview/src/handleMessage.js'
 import { mergeData } from '../../packages/live-preview/src/mergeData.js'
 import { traverseRichText } from '../../packages/live-preview/src/traverseRichText.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import getFileByPath from '../../packages/payload/src/uploads/getFileByPath.js'
 import { fieldSchemaToJSON } from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/fieldSchemaToJSON.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { Pages } from './collections/Pages.js'
 import { postsSlug } from './collections/Posts.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { tenantsSlug } from './shared.js'
+
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
 
@@ -71,6 +72,12 @@ describe('Collections - Live Preview', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('handles `postMessage`', async () => {
     const handledMessage = await handleMessage({
       depth: 1,
diff --git a/test/localization/int.spec.ts b/test/localization/int.spec.ts
index b683250da..e59e1fa2a 100644
--- a/test/localization/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/localization/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { Where } from '../../packages/payload/src/types/index.js'
 import type { LocalizedPost, WithLocalizedRelationship } from './payload-types.js'
-
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { englishLocale } from '../globals/config.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { idToString } from '../helpers/idToString.js'
@@ -18,9 +17,9 @@ import {
   portugueseLocale,
   relationEnglishTitle,
   relationEnglishTitle2,
+  relationshipLocalizedSlug,
   relationSpanishTitle,
   relationSpanishTitle2,
-  relationshipLocalizedSlug,
   spanishLocale,
   spanishTitle,
   withLocalizedRelSlug,
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ describe('Localization', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts
index df0de9889..cb5be192e 100644
--- a/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-cloud-storage/int.spec.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { describeIfInCIOrHasLocalstack } from '../helpers.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
+
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
 
@@ -19,6 +19,13 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-cloud-storage', () => {
     const config = await startMemoryDB(configPromise)
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   const TEST_BUCKET = 'payload-bucket'
 
   let client: AWS.S3Client
diff --git a/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts
index 82e0a7b5d..82c6ceccc 100644
--- a/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-cloud/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -12,6 +11,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-cloud', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('tests', () => {
     it.todo('plugin-cloud tests')
   })
diff --git a/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts
index a93e5928b..fd174c45c 100644
--- a/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-form-builder/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type { Form } from './payload-types.js'
 
 import { ValidationError } from '../../packages/payload/src/errors/index.js'
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { serializeLexical } from '../../packages/plugin-form-builder/src/utilities/lexical/serializeLexical.js'
 import { serializeSlate } from '../../packages/plugin-form-builder/src/utilities/slate/serializeSlate.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
-import { formSubmissionsSlug, formsSlug } from './shared.js'
+import { formsSlug, formSubmissionsSlug } from './shared.js'
 
 let payload: Payload
 let form: Form
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-form-builder', () => {
     })) as unknown as Form
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('plugin collections', () => {
     it('adds forms collection', async () => {
       const { docs: forms } = await payload.find({ collection: formsSlug })
diff --git a/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts
index a578813c5..af41df999 100644
--- a/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-nested-docs/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
-import type {
-  ArrayField,
-  RelationshipField,
-} from '../../packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.js'
+import type { ArrayField, RelationshipField, } from '../../packages/payload/src/fields/config/types.js'
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -16,6 +12,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-nested-docs', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('seed', () => {
     it('should populate two levels of breadcrumbs', async () => {
       const query = await payload.find({
diff --git a/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts
index 967fbb02f..9a459e3dd 100644
--- a/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-redirects/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import type { Page } from './payload-types.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { Page } from './payload-types.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { pagesSlug } from './shared.js'
@@ -22,6 +21,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-redirects', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('should add a redirects collection', async () => {
     const redirect = await payload.find({
       collection: 'redirects',
diff --git a/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
index 39dd01802..8ff1e7bda 100644
--- a/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-search/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import wait from '../../packages/payload/src/utilities/wait.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
@@ -13,6 +12,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-search', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('should add a search collection', async () => {
     const search = await payload.find({
       collection: 'search',
diff --git a/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts
index ca910b70a..9e210d9c9 100644
--- a/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-sentry/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -12,6 +11,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-sentry', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('tests', () => {
     it.todo('plugin-sentry tests')
   })
diff --git a/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts
index 09461c31a..d41ac83d3 100644
--- a/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-seo/int.spec.ts
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ import path from 'path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import getFileByPath from '../../packages/payload/src/uploads/getFileByPath.js'
 import removeFiles from '../helpers/removeFiles.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
 import { mediaSlug } from './shared.js'
+
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
 
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ describe('@payloadcms/plugin-seo', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('should add meta title', async () => {
     const pageWithTitle = await payload.update({
       collection: 'pages',
diff --git a/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts b/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts
index bc17d26a6..e2fc66af1 100644
--- a/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugin-stripe/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -12,6 +11,12 @@ describe('Stripe Plugin', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('should create products', async () => {
     const product = await payload.create({
       collection: 'products',
diff --git a/test/plugins/int.spec.ts b/test/plugins/int.spec.ts
index dbe2fdf6a..a6f544406 100644
--- a/test/plugins/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/plugins/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise, { pagesSlug } from './config.js'
@@ -12,6 +11,12 @@ describe('Collections - Plugins', () => {
     payload = await getPayload({ config })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('created pages collection', async () => {
     const { id } = await payload.create({
       collection: pagesSlug,
diff --git a/test/relationships/int.spec.ts b/test/relationships/int.spec.ts
index f7c91cab6..761ed6d67 100644
--- a/test/relationships/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/relationships/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import type {
   ChainedRelation,
   CustomIdNumberRelation,
@@ -9,8 +10,6 @@ import type {
   Post,
   Relation,
 } from './payload-types.js'
-
-import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ describe('Relationships', () => {
 
   afterAll(async () => {
     if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
-      await payload.db.destroy(payload)
+      await payload.db.destroy()
     }
   })
 
diff --git a/test/startMemoryDB.ts b/test/startMemoryDB.ts
index 519b8c024..fd9485c6a 100644
--- a/test/startMemoryDB.ts
+++ b/test/startMemoryDB.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import getPort from 'get-port'
 import { MongoMemoryReplSet } from 'mongodb-memory-server'
 
 import type { SanitizedConfig } from '../packages/payload/src/config/types.js'
@@ -22,20 +21,17 @@ export const startMemoryDB = async (
     }
 
     default: {
-      const port = await getPort()
       const db = await MongoMemoryReplSet.create({
-        instanceOpts: [
-          {
-            port,
-          },
-        ],
         replSet: {
           count: 3,
           dbName: 'payloadmemory',
         },
       })
 
-      config.db = mongooseAdapter({ url: db.getUri() })
+      config.db = mongooseAdapter({
+        url: db.getUri(),
+        mongoMemoryServer: db,
+      })
 
       return config
     }
diff --git a/test/uploads/int.spec.ts b/test/uploads/int.spec.ts
index a727f60a4..95e0bb0b7 100644
--- a/test/uploads/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/uploads/int.spec.ts
@@ -6,21 +6,14 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import { promisify } from 'util'
 
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-import type { Enlarge, Media } from './payload-types.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
+import type { Enlarge, Media } from './payload-types.js'
 import getFileByPath from '../../packages/payload/src/uploads/getFileByPath.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
 import { startMemoryDB } from '../startMemoryDB.js'
 import configPromise from './config.js'
-import {
-  enlargeSlug,
-  mediaSlug,
-  reduceSlug,
-  relationSlug,
-  unstoredMediaSlug,
-  usersSlug,
-} from './shared.js'
+import { enlargeSlug, mediaSlug, reduceSlug, relationSlug, unstoredMediaSlug, usersSlug, } from './shared.js'
+
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
 
@@ -84,6 +77,12 @@ describe('Collections - Uploads', () => {
     await restClient.login({ slug: usersSlug })
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   describe('REST', () => {
     describe('create', () => {
       it('creates from form data given a png', async () => {
diff --git a/test/versions/int.spec.ts b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
index 020a593b6..99535521c 100644
--- a/test/versions/int.spec.ts
+++ b/test/versions/int.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import type { Payload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
-
 import { getPayload } from '../../packages/payload/src/index.js'
 import { devUser } from '../credentials.js'
 import { NextRESTClient } from '../helpers/NextRESTClient.js'
@@ -55,6 +54,12 @@ describe('Versions', () => {
     token = data.loginUser.token
   })
 
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    if (typeof payload.db.destroy === 'function') {
+      await payload.db.destroy()
+    }
+  })
+
   beforeEach(async () => {
     await clearAndSeedEverything(payload)