diff --git a/db.go b/db.go
index 29d7114..0bc516c 100644
--- a/db.go
+++ b/db.go
@@ -291,18 +291,50 @@ func (db *DB) Open() (err error) {
 // Close releases the read lock & closes the database. This method should only
 // be called by tests as it causes the underlying database to be checkpointed.
 func (db *DB) Close() (err error) {
-	// Ensure replicas all stop replicating.
-	for _, r := range db.Replicas {
-		r.Stop(true)
+	return db.close(false)
+}
+
+// SoftClose closes everything but the underlying db connection. This method
+// is available because the binary needs to avoid closing the database on exit
+// to prevent autocheckpointing.
+func (db *DB) SoftClose() (err error) {
+	return db.close(true)
+}
+
+func (db *DB) close(soft bool) (err error) {
+	db.cancel()
+	db.wg.Wait()
+
+	// Start a new context for shutdown since we canceled the DB context.
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Perform a final db sync, if initialized.
+	if db.db != nil {
+		if e := db.Sync(ctx); e != nil && err == nil {
+			err = e
+		}
 	}
 
+	// Ensure replicas perform a final sync and stop replicating.
+	for _, r := range db.Replicas {
+		if db.db != nil {
+			if e := r.Sync(ctx); e != nil && err == nil {
+				err = e
+			}
+		}
+		r.Stop(!soft)
+	}
+
+	// Release the read lock to allow other applications to handle checkpointing.
 	if db.rtx != nil {
 		if e := db.releaseReadLock(); e != nil && err == nil {
 			err = e
 		}
 	}
 
-	if db.db != nil {
+	// Only perform full close if this is not a soft close.
+	// This closes the underlying database connection which can clean up the WAL.
+	if !soft && db.db != nil {
 		if e := db.db.Close(); e != nil && err == nil {
 			err = e
 		}
@@ -597,26 +629,6 @@ func (db *DB) cleanWAL() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// SoftClose closes everything but the underlying db connection. This method
-// is available because the binary needs to avoid closing the database on exit
-// to prevent autocheckpointing.
-func (db *DB) SoftClose() (err error) {
-	db.cancel()
-	db.wg.Wait()
-
-	// Ensure replicas all stop replicating.
-	for _, r := range db.Replicas {
-		r.Stop(false)
-	}
-
-	if db.rtx != nil {
-		if e := db.releaseReadLock(); e != nil && err == nil {
-			err = e
-		}
-	}
-	return err
-}
-
 // acquireReadLock begins a read transaction on the database to prevent checkpointing.
 func (db *DB) acquireReadLock() error {
 	if db.rtx != nil {
@@ -711,7 +723,7 @@ func (db *DB) createGeneration() (string, error) {
 }
 
 // Sync copies pending data from the WAL to the shadow WAL.
-func (db *DB) Sync() (err error) {
+func (db *DB) Sync(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	db.mu.Lock()
 	defer db.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -755,7 +767,7 @@ func (db *DB) Sync() (err error) {
 	// insert will never actually occur because our tx will be rolled back,
 	// however, it will ensure our tx grabs the write lock. Unfortunately,
 	// we can't call "BEGIN IMMEDIATE" as we are already in a transaction.
-	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(db.ctx, `INSERT INTO _litestream_lock (id) VALUES (1);`); err != nil {
+	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT INTO _litestream_lock (id) VALUES (1);`); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("_litestream_lock: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -814,7 +826,7 @@ func (db *DB) Sync() (err error) {
 	if checkpoint {
 		changed = true
 
-		if err := db.checkpointAndInit(info.generation, checkpointMode); err != nil {
+		if err := db.checkpointAndInit(ctx, info.generation, checkpointMode); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("checkpoint: mode=%v err=%w", checkpointMode, err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -1325,7 +1337,7 @@ func (db *DB) checkpoint(mode string) (err error) {
 
 // checkpointAndInit performs a checkpoint on the WAL file and initializes a
 // new shadow WAL file.
-func (db *DB) checkpointAndInit(generation, mode string) error {
+func (db *DB) checkpointAndInit(ctx context.Context, generation, mode string) error {
 	shadowWALPath, err := db.CurrentShadowWALPath(generation)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1368,7 +1380,7 @@ func (db *DB) checkpointAndInit(generation, mode string) error {
 	// insert will never actually occur because our tx will be rolled back,
 	// however, it will ensure our tx grabs the write lock. Unfortunately,
 	// we can't call "BEGIN IMMEDIATE" as we are already in a transaction.
-	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(db.ctx, `INSERT INTO _litestream_lock (id) VALUES (1);`); err != nil {
+	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx, `INSERT INTO _litestream_lock (id) VALUES (1);`); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("_litestream_lock: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -1410,7 +1422,7 @@ func (db *DB) monitor() {
 		}
 
 		// Sync the database to the shadow WAL.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
+		if err := db.Sync(db.ctx); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
 			log.Printf("%s: sync error: %s", db.path, err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -1666,7 +1678,7 @@ func restoreWAL(ctx context.Context, r Replica, generation string, index int, db
 // unable to checkpoint during this time.
 //
 // If dst is set, the database file is copied to that location before checksum.
-func (db *DB) CRC64() (uint64, Pos, error) {
+func (db *DB) CRC64(ctx context.Context) (uint64, Pos, error) {
 	db.mu.Lock()
 	defer db.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -1684,7 +1696,7 @@ func (db *DB) CRC64() (uint64, Pos, error) {
 	}
 
 	// Force a RESTART checkpoint to ensure the database is at the start of the WAL.
-	if err := db.checkpointAndInit(generation, CheckpointModeRestart); err != nil {
+	if err := db.checkpointAndInit(ctx, generation, CheckpointModeRestart); err != nil {
 		return 0, Pos{}, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/db_test.go b/db_test.go
index 7227cfb..a302067 100644
--- a/db_test.go
+++ b/db_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package litestream_test
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@ func TestDB_CRC64(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("ErrNotExist", func(t *testing.T) {
 		db := MustOpenDB(t)
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
-		if _, _, err := db.CRC64(); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		if _, _, err := db.CRC64(context.Background()); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %#v", err)
 		}
 	})
@@ -127,11 +129,11 @@ func TestDB_CRC64(t *testing.T) {
 		db, sqldb := MustOpenDBs(t)
 		defer MustCloseDBs(t, db, sqldb)
 
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		chksum0, _, err := db.CRC64()
+		chksum0, _, err := db.CRC64(context.Background())
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ func TestDB_CRC64(t *testing.T) {
 		// Issue change that is applied to the WAL. Checksum should not change.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE t (id INT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if chksum1, _, err := db.CRC64(); err != nil {
+		} else if chksum1, _, err := db.CRC64(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		} else if chksum0 == chksum1 {
 			t.Fatal("expected different checksum event after WAL change")
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ func TestDB_CRC64(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		if chksum2, _, err := db.CRC64(); err != nil {
+		if chksum2, _, err := db.CRC64(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		} else if chksum0 == chksum2 {
 			t.Fatal("expected different checksums after checkpoint")
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("NoDB", func(t *testing.T) {
 		db := MustOpenDB(t)
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	})
@@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		db, sqldb := MustOpenDBs(t)
 		defer MustCloseDBs(t, db, sqldb)
 
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -212,7 +214,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Perform initial sync & grab initial position.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -227,7 +229,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Sync to ensure position moves forward one page.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		} else if pos1, err := db.Pos(); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
@@ -246,7 +248,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		defer MustCloseDBs(t, db, sqldb)
 
 		// Issue initial sync and truncate WAL.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -275,7 +277,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
 
 		// Re-sync and ensure new generation has been created.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -298,7 +300,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Issue initial sync and truncate WAL.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -334,7 +336,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
 
 		// Re-sync and ensure new generation has been created.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -354,7 +356,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Execute a query to force a write to the WAL and then sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE foo (bar TEXT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -378,7 +380,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Reopen managed database & ensure sync will still work.
 		db = MustOpenDBAt(t, db.Path())
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -398,7 +400,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Execute a query to force a write to the WAL and then sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE foo (bar TEXT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -417,7 +419,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Reopen managed database & ensure sync will still work.
 		db = MustOpenDBAt(t, db.Path())
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -437,7 +439,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Execute a query to force a write to the WAL and then sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE foo (bar TEXT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -462,7 +464,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Reopen managed database & ensure sync will still work.
 		db = MustOpenDBAt(t, db.Path())
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -489,7 +491,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Execute a query to force a write to the WAL and then sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE foo (bar TEXT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -508,7 +510,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Reopen managed database & ensure sync will still work.
 		db = MustOpenDBAt(t, db.Path())
 		defer MustCloseDB(t, db)
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -532,7 +534,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Execute a query to force a write to the WAL and then sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE foo (bar TEXT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -544,7 +546,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Sync to shadow WAL.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -564,7 +566,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Execute a query to force a write to the WAL and then sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`CREATE TABLE foo (bar TEXT);`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -574,7 +576,7 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		// Write to WAL & sync.
 		if _, err := sqldb.Exec(`INSERT INTO foo (bar) VALUES ('baz');`); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
-		} else if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		} else if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
@@ -589,12 +591,14 @@ func TestDB_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 
 // MustOpenDBs returns a new instance of a DB & associated SQL DB.
 func MustOpenDBs(tb testing.TB) (*litestream.DB, *sql.DB) {
+	tb.Helper()
 	db := MustOpenDB(tb)
 	return db, MustOpenSQLDB(tb, db.Path())
 }
 
 // MustCloseDBs closes db & sqldb and removes the parent directory.
 func MustCloseDBs(tb testing.TB, db *litestream.DB, sqldb *sql.DB) {
+	tb.Helper()
 	MustCloseDB(tb, db)
 	MustCloseSQLDB(tb, sqldb)
 }
@@ -619,7 +623,7 @@ func MustOpenDBAt(tb testing.TB, path string) *litestream.DB {
 // MustCloseDB closes db and removes its parent directory.
 func MustCloseDB(tb testing.TB, db *litestream.DB) {
 	tb.Helper()
-	if err := db.Close(); err != nil {
+	if err := db.Close(); err != nil && !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `database is closed`) {
 		tb.Fatal(err)
 	} else if err := os.RemoveAll(filepath.Dir(db.Path())); err != nil {
 		tb.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/replica.go b/replica.go
index d7369c5..bc24b5a 100644
--- a/replica.go
+++ b/replica.go
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ type Replica interface {
 	// Stops all replication processing. Blocks until processing stopped.
 	Stop(hard bool) error
 
+	// Performs a backup of outstanding WAL frames to the replica.
+	Sync(ctx context.Context) error
+
 	// Returns the last replication position.
 	LastPos() Pos
 
@@ -1164,7 +1167,7 @@ func ValidateReplica(ctx context.Context, r Replica) error {
 
 	// Compute checksum of primary database under lock. This prevents a
 	// sync from occurring and the database will not be written.
-	chksum0, pos, err := db.CRC64()
+	chksum0, pos, err := db.CRC64(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot compute checksum: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/replica_test.go b/replica_test.go
index 101b4cf..a70459f 100644
--- a/replica_test.go
+++ b/replica_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ func TestFileReplica_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 		r := NewTestFileReplica(t, db)
 
 		// Sync database & then sync replica.
-		if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+		if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		} else if err := r.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func TestFileReplica_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// Sync periodically.
 			if i%100 == 0 || i == n-1 {
-				if err := db.Sync(); err != nil {
+				if err := db.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 					t.Fatal(err)
 				} else if err := r.Sync(context.Background()); err != nil {
 					t.Fatal(err)