diff --git a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py
index 8e6849c187..e7270172b0 100644
--- a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py
+++ b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def to_anndata(self) -> AnnData:
         )
 
 
-class ExperimentAxisQuery:
+class ExperimentAxisQuery(query.ExperimentAxisQuery):
     """Axis-based query against a SOMA Experiment.
 
     ExperimentAxisQuery allows easy selection and extraction of data from a
@@ -567,7 +567,10 @@ def to_spatialdata(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
 
         return sdata
 
-    # Context management
+    # Context management.
+    # Currently a no-op, but, part of public API so we retain it.
+    def close(self) -> None:
+        pass
 
     def __enter__(self) -> Self:
         return self
diff --git a/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py b/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py
index e70605cf2e..ffb3f17aa7 100644
--- a/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py
+++ b/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py
@@ -545,6 +545,26 @@ def test_error_corners(soma_experiment: Experiment):
                 next(query.varp(lyr_name))
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("n_obs,n_vars", [(1001, 99)])
+def test_query_cleanup(soma_experiment: soma.Experiment):
+    """
+    Verify soma.Experiment.query works as context manager and stand-alone,
+    and that it cleans up correctly.
+    """
+    from contextlib import closing
+
+    context = SOMATileDBContext()
+    soma_experiment = get_soma_experiment_with_context(soma_experiment, context)
+
+    with soma_experiment.axis_query("RNA") as query:
+        assert query.n_obs == 1001
+        assert query.n_vars == 99
+        assert query.to_anndata("raw") is not None
+
+    with closing(soma_experiment.axis_query("RNA")) as query:
+        assert query.to_anndata("raw") is not None
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "n_obs,n_vars,obsp_layer_names,varp_layer_names,obsm_layer_names,varm_layer_names",
     [(1001, 99, ["foo"], ["bar"], ["baz"], ["quux"])],