diff --git a/executor/price_cache.py b/executor/price_cache.py
index 2a83d42..e4b5a0e 100644
--- a/executor/price_cache.py
+++ b/executor/price_cache.py
@@ -62,16 +62,15 @@ def _open_universe_library(signals_bucket: str):
     those live in the `macro` library; use ``_open_macro_library`` for
     those.
 
-    Hard-fails on connection/library errors per feedback_no_silent_fails.
+    Thin wrapper over ``alpha_engine_lib.arcticdb.open_universe_lib`` —
+    the lib chokepoint (L2771) centralizes the S3 URI construction and
+    `get_library` error-wrapping across all alpha-engine consumers.
+    Kept as a local wrapper so the existing callers' import surface
+    stays unchanged and so the macOS allocator-prime invariant
+    (``import arcticdb`` at module top, BEFORE pandas) is preserved.
     """
-    adb = _arcticdb  # already imported at module top for macOS allocator prime
-    region = os.environ.get("AWS_REGION", "us-east-1")
-    uri = (
-        f"s3s://s3.{region}.amazonaws.com:{signals_bucket}"
-        f"?path_prefix=arcticdb&aws_auth=true"
-    )
-    arctic = adb.Arctic(uri)
-    return arctic.get_library("universe")
+    from alpha_engine_lib.arcticdb import open_universe_lib
+    return open_universe_lib(signals_bucket)
 
 
 def _open_macro_library(signals_bucket: str):
@@ -82,16 +81,11 @@ def _open_macro_library(signals_bucket: str):
     and builders.backfill. SPY in particular is what the morning
     freshness gate and EOD reconcile check.
 
-    Hard-fails on connection/library errors per feedback_no_silent_fails.
+    Thin wrapper over ``alpha_engine_lib.arcticdb.open_macro_lib`` —
+    see ``_open_universe_library`` above for the rationale.
     """
-    adb = _arcticdb
-    region = os.environ.get("AWS_REGION", "us-east-1")
-    uri = (
-        f"s3s://s3.{region}.amazonaws.com:{signals_bucket}"
-        f"?path_prefix=arcticdb&aws_auth=true"
-    )
-    arctic = adb.Arctic(uri)
-    return arctic.get_library("macro")
+    from alpha_engine_lib.arcticdb import open_macro_lib
+    return open_macro_lib(signals_bucket)
 
 
 def load_price_histories(