diff --git a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py
index 4071788e78..55b2c512b4 100644
--- a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py
+++ b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_query.py
@@ -243,7 +243,6 @@ def __init__(
             index_factory=index_factory,
         )
         self._index_factory = index_factory
-        self._threadpool_: Optional[ThreadPoolExecutor] = None
 
     def obs(
         self,
@@ -477,20 +476,7 @@ def to_anndata(
     # Context management
 
     def close(self) -> None:
-        """Releases resources associated with this query.
-
-        This method must be idempotent.
-
-        Lifecycle: maturing
-        """
-        # Because this may be called during ``__del__`` when we might be getting
-        # disassembled, sometimes ``_threadpool_`` is simply missing.
-        # Only try to shut it down if it still exists.
-        pool = getattr(self, "_threadpool_", None)
-        if pool is None:
-            return
-        pool.shutdown()
-        self._threadpool_ = None
+        pass
 
     def __enter__(self) -> Self:
         return self
@@ -775,13 +761,7 @@ def _threadpool(self) -> ThreadPoolExecutor:
         """
         Returns the threadpool provided by the experiment's context.
         If not available, creates a thread pool just in time."""
-        context = self.experiment.context
-        if context and context.threadpool:
-            return context.threadpool
-
-        if self._threadpool_ is None:
-            self._threadpool_ = ThreadPoolExecutor()
-        return self._threadpool_
+        return self.experiment.context.threadpool
 
 
 @attrs.define(frozen=True)
diff --git a/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py b/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py
index 401831f29d..f0e27d2237 100644
--- a/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py
+++ b/apis/python/tests/test_experiment_query.py
@@ -540,35 +540,6 @@ 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: Experiment):
-    """
-    Verify Experiment.query works as context manager and stand-alone,
-    and that it cleans up correctly.
-    """
-    from contextlib import closing
-
-    # Forces a context without a thread pool, which in turn causes ExperimentAxisQuery
-    # to own (and release) its own thread pool.
-    context = SOMATileDBContext()
-    context.threadpool = None
-    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
-        assert query._threadpool_ is not None
-
-    assert query._threadpool_ is None
-
-    with closing(soma_experiment.axis_query("RNA")) as query:
-        assert query.to_anndata("raw") is not None
-        assert query._threadpool_ is not None
-
-    assert query._threadpool_ is 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"])],