diff --git a/weed/filer/filer.go b/weed/filer/filer.go
index c4ba41491..55dbbd804 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filer.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filer.go
@@ -368,6 +368,11 @@ func (f *Filer) FindEntry(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath) (entry *Entry, e
 }
 
 func (f *Filer) doListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, startFileName string, inclusive bool, limit int64, prefix string, eachEntryFunc ListEachEntryFunc) (expiredCount int64, lastFileName string, err error) {
+	// Collect expired entries during iteration to avoid deadlock with DB connection pool
+	var expiredEntries []*Entry
+	var s3ExpiredEntries []*Entry
+	var hasValidEntries bool
+
 	lastFileName, err = f.Store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, p, startFileName, inclusive, limit, prefix, func(entry *Entry) bool {
 		select {
 		case <-ctx.Done():
@@ -376,29 +381,91 @@ func (f *Filer) doListDirectoryEntries(ctx context.Context, p util.FullPath, sta
 			if entry.TtlSec > 0 {
 				if entry.IsExpireS3Enabled() {
 					if entry.GetS3ExpireTime().Before(time.Now()) && !entry.IsS3Versioning() {
-						if delErr := f.doDeleteEntryMetaAndData(ctx, entry, true, false, nil); delErr != nil {
-							glog.ErrorfCtx(ctx, "doListDirectoryEntries doDeleteEntryMetaAndData %s failed: %v", entry.FullPath, delErr)
-						}
+						// Collect for deletion after iteration completes to avoid DB deadlock
+						s3ExpiredEntries = append(s3ExpiredEntries, entry)
 						expiredCount++
 						return true
 					}
 				} else if entry.Crtime.Add(time.Duration(entry.TtlSec) * time.Second).Before(time.Now()) {
-					if delErr := f.Store.DeleteOneEntry(ctx, entry); delErr != nil {
-						glog.ErrorfCtx(ctx, "doListDirectoryEntries DeleteOneEntry %s failed: %v", entry.FullPath, delErr)
-					}
+					// Collect for deletion after iteration completes to avoid DB deadlock
+					expiredEntries = append(expiredEntries, entry)
 					expiredCount++
 					return true
 				}
 			}
+			// Track that we found at least one valid (non-expired) entry
+			hasValidEntries = true
 			return eachEntryFunc(entry)
 		}
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return expiredCount, lastFileName, err
 	}
+
+	// Delete expired entries after iteration completes to avoid DB connection deadlock
+	if len(s3ExpiredEntries) > 0 || len(expiredEntries) > 0 {
+		for _, entry := range s3ExpiredEntries {
+			if delErr := f.doDeleteEntryMetaAndData(ctx, entry, true, false, nil); delErr != nil {
+				glog.ErrorfCtx(ctx, "doListDirectoryEntries doDeleteEntryMetaAndData %s failed: %v", entry.FullPath, delErr)
+			}
+		}
+		for _, entry := range expiredEntries {
+			if delErr := f.Store.DeleteOneEntry(ctx, entry); delErr != nil {
+				glog.ErrorfCtx(ctx, "doListDirectoryEntries DeleteOneEntry %s failed: %v", entry.FullPath, delErr)
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Check if directory is now empty and delete it if so
+		// Only check if we didn't find any valid entries and we're not at root
+		if !hasValidEntries && p != "/" && startFileName == "" {
+			// Do a quick check to see if directory is truly empty now
+			isEmpty := true
+			_, checkErr := f.Store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, p, "", true, 1, prefix, func(entry *Entry) bool {
+				isEmpty = false
+				return false // Stop after first entry
+			})
+			if checkErr == nil && isEmpty {
+				glog.V(2).InfofCtx(ctx, "doListDirectoryEntries: deleting empty directory %s after expiring all entries", p)
+				parentDir, _ := p.DirAndName()
+				if dirEntry, findErr := f.FindEntry(ctx, p); findErr == nil {
+					// Delete the now-empty directory
+					if delErr := f.doDeleteEntryMetaAndData(ctx, dirEntry, false, false, nil); delErr == nil {
+						// Recursively try to delete parent directories if they become empty
+						f.maybeDeleteEmptyParentDirectories(ctx, util.FullPath(parentDir))
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	return
 }
 
+// maybeDeleteEmptyParentDirectories recursively checks and deletes parent directories if they become empty
+func (f *Filer) maybeDeleteEmptyParentDirectories(ctx context.Context, parentDir util.FullPath) {
+	if parentDir == "/" {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Check if parent directory is empty
+	isEmpty := true
+	_, err := f.Store.ListDirectoryPrefixedEntries(ctx, parentDir, "", true, 1, "", func(entry *Entry) bool {
+		isEmpty = false
+		return false // Stop after first entry
+	})
+
+	if err == nil && isEmpty {
+		glog.V(2).InfofCtx(ctx, "maybeDeleteEmptyParentDirectories: deleting empty directory %s", parentDir)
+		grandParentDir, _ := parentDir.DirAndName()
+		if parentEntry, findErr := f.FindEntry(ctx, parentDir); findErr == nil {
+			if delErr := f.doDeleteEntryMetaAndData(ctx, parentEntry, false, false, nil); delErr == nil {
+				// Continue checking upwards
+				f.maybeDeleteEmptyParentDirectories(ctx, util.FullPath(grandParentDir))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (f *Filer) Shutdown() {
 	close(f.deletionQuit)
 	f.LocalMetaLogBuffer.ShutdownLogBuffer()