diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/admin_queries.rs b/web3_proxy/src/admin_queries.rs
index 928eff16..a16dfbc2 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/admin_queries.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/admin_queries.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyResponse};
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use crate::http_params::get_user_id_from_params;
 use axum::response::IntoResponse;
 use axum::{
@@ -42,8 +43,8 @@ pub async fn query_admin_modify_usertier<'a>(
     let mut response_body = HashMap::new();
 
     // Establish connections
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
     let mut redis_conn = app.redis_conn().await?;
 
     // Will modify logic here
@@ -52,14 +53,14 @@ pub async fn query_admin_modify_usertier<'a>(
     // TODO: Make a single query, where you retrieve the user, and directly from it the secondary user (otherwise we do two jumpy, which is unnecessary)
     // get the user id first. if it is 0, we should use a cache on the app
     let caller_id =
-        get_user_id_from_params(&mut redis_conn, db_conn, db_replica, bearer, params).await?;
+        get_user_id_from_params(&mut redis_conn, &db_conn, &db_replica, bearer, params).await?;
 
     trace!(%caller_id, "query_admin_modify_usertier");
 
     // Check if the caller is an admin (i.e. if he is in an admin table)
     let _admin = admin::Entity::find()
         .filter(admin::Column::UserId.eq(caller_id))
-        .one(db_conn)
+        .one(&db_conn)
         .await?
         .ok_or(Web3ProxyError::AccessDenied("not an admin".into()))?;
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ pub async fn query_admin_modify_usertier<'a>(
     // Fetch the admin, and the user
     let user: user::Model = user::Entity::find()
         .filter(user::Column::Address.eq(user_address.as_bytes()))
-        .one(db_conn)
+        .one(&db_conn)
         .await?
         .ok_or(Web3ProxyError::BadRequest(
             "No user with this id found".into(),
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ pub async fn query_admin_modify_usertier<'a>(
     // Now we can modify the user's tier
     let new_user_tier: user_tier::Model = user_tier::Entity::find()
         .filter(user_tier::Column::Title.eq(user_tier_title.clone()))
-        .one(db_conn)
+        .one(&db_conn)
         .await?
         .ok_or(Web3ProxyError::BadRequest(
             "User Tier name was not found".into(),
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ pub async fn query_admin_modify_usertier<'a>(
 
         user.user_tier_id = sea_orm::Set(new_user_tier.id);
 
-        user.save(db_conn).await?;
+        user.save(&db_conn).await?;
 
         info!("user's tier changed");
     }
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ pub async fn query_admin_modify_usertier<'a>(
     // Now delete all bearer tokens of this user
     login::Entity::delete_many()
         .filter(login::Column::UserId.eq(user.id))
-        .exec(db_conn)
+        .exec(&db_conn)
         .await?;
 
     Ok(Json(&response_body).into_response())
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/app/mod.rs b/web3_proxy/src/app/mod.rs
index 03c058a0..3dfad6de 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/app/mod.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/app/mod.rs
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@ use crate::frontend::authorization::{
     Authorization, RequestMetadata, RequestOrMethod, ResponseOrBytes,
 };
 use crate::frontend::rpc_proxy_ws::ProxyMode;
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, DatabaseError, DB_CONN, DB_REPLICA};
 use crate::jsonrpc::{
     JsonRpcErrorData, JsonRpcForwardedResponse, JsonRpcForwardedResponseEnum, JsonRpcId,
     JsonRpcParams, JsonRpcRequest, JsonRpcRequestEnum, JsonRpcResultData,
 };
-use crate::relational_db::{connect_db, get_migrated_db, DatabaseConnection, DatabaseReplica};
+use crate::relational_db::{connect_db, migrate_db};
 use crate::response_cache::{
     JsonRpcQueryCacheKey, JsonRpcResponseCache, JsonRpcResponseEnum, JsonRpcResponseWeigher,
 };
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ use ethers::utils::rlp::{Decodable, Rlp};
 use futures::future::join_all;
 use futures::stream::{FuturesUnordered, StreamExt};
 use hashbrown::{HashMap, HashSet};
-use migration::sea_orm::{DatabaseTransaction, EntityTrait, PaginatorTrait, TransactionTrait};
+use migration::sea_orm::{EntityTrait, PaginatorTrait};
 use moka::future::{Cache, CacheBuilder};
 use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
 use redis_rate_limiter::redis::AsyncCommands;
@@ -49,10 +50,10 @@ use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU16, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{atomic, Arc};
 use std::time::Duration;
-use tokio::runtime::Runtime;
+use tokio::select;
 use tokio::sync::{broadcast, mpsc, oneshot, watch, Semaphore};
 use tokio::task::JoinHandle;
-use tokio::time::timeout;
+use tokio::time::{sleep, timeout};
 use tracing::{error, info, trace, warn, Level};
 
 // TODO: make this customizable?
@@ -87,10 +88,6 @@ pub struct Web3ProxyApp {
     /// don't drop this or the sender will stop working
     /// TODO: broadcast channel instead?
     pub watch_consensus_head_receiver: watch::Receiver<Option<Web3ProxyBlock>>,
-    /// Optional database for users and accounting
-    pub db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
-    /// Optional read-only database for users and accounting
-    pub db_replica: Option<DatabaseReplica>,
     pub hostname: Option<String>,
     pub frontend_port: Arc<AtomicU16>,
     /// rate limit anonymous users
@@ -178,8 +175,13 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         flush_stat_buffer_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<oneshot::Sender<FlushedStats>>,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<Web3ProxyAppSpawn> {
         let stat_buffer_shutdown_receiver = shutdown_sender.subscribe();
+        let mut config_watcher_shutdown_receiver = shutdown_sender.subscribe();
         let mut background_shutdown_receiver = shutdown_sender.subscribe();
 
+        let (new_top_config_sender, mut new_top_config_receiver) =
+            watch::channel(top_config.clone());
+        new_top_config_receiver.borrow_and_update();
+
         // safety checks on the config
         // while i would prefer this to be in a "apply_top_config" function, that is a larger refactor
         // TODO: maybe don't spawn with a config at all. have all config updates come through an apply_top_config call
@@ -212,62 +214,6 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         let important_background_handles: FuturesUnordered<Web3ProxyJoinHandle<()>> =
             FuturesUnordered::new();
 
-        // connect to the database and make sure the latest migrations have run
-        let mut db_conn = None::<DatabaseConnection>;
-        let mut db_replica = None::<DatabaseReplica>;
-        if let Some(db_url) = top_config.app.db_url.clone() {
-            let db_min_connections = top_config
-                .app
-                .db_min_connections
-                .unwrap_or(num_workers as u32);
-
-            // TODO: what default multiple?
-            let db_max_connections = top_config
-                .app
-                .db_max_connections
-                .unwrap_or(db_min_connections * 2);
-
-            db_conn = Some(
-                get_migrated_db(db_url.clone(), db_min_connections, db_max_connections).await?,
-            );
-
-            db_replica = if let Some(db_replica_url) = top_config.app.db_replica_url.clone() {
-                if db_replica_url == db_url {
-                    // url is the same. do not make a new connection or we might go past our max connections
-                    db_conn.clone().map(Into::into)
-                } else {
-                    let db_replica_min_connections = top_config
-                        .app
-                        .db_replica_min_connections
-                        .unwrap_or(db_min_connections);
-
-                    let db_replica_max_connections = top_config
-                        .app
-                        .db_replica_max_connections
-                        .unwrap_or(db_max_connections);
-
-                    let db_replica = connect_db(
-                        db_replica_url,
-                        db_replica_min_connections,
-                        db_replica_max_connections,
-                    )
-                    .await?;
-
-                    Some(db_replica.into())
-                }
-            } else {
-                // just clone so that we don't need a bunch of checks all over our code
-                db_conn.clone().map(Into::into)
-            };
-        } else {
-            anyhow::ensure!(
-                top_config.app.db_replica_url.is_none(),
-                "if there is a db_replica_url, there must be a db_url"
-            );
-
-            warn!("no database. some features will be disabled");
-        };
-
         // connect to kafka for logging requests from the /debug/ urls
 
         let mut kafka_producer: Option<rdkafka::producer::FutureProducer> = None;
@@ -379,7 +325,6 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         let stat_sender = if let Some(spawned_stat_buffer) = StatBuffer::try_spawn(
             BILLING_PERIOD_SECONDS,
             top_config.app.chain_id,
-            db_conn.clone(),
             60,
             top_config.app.influxdb_bucket.clone(),
             influxdb_client.clone(),
@@ -472,6 +417,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
 
         let chain_id = top_config.app.chain_id;
 
+        // TODO: remove this. it should only be done by apply_top_config
         let (balanced_rpcs, balanced_handle, consensus_connections_watcher) = Web3Rpcs::spawn(
             chain_id,
             top_config.app.max_head_block_lag,
@@ -487,6 +433,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
 
         // prepare a Web3Rpcs to hold all our private connections
         // only some chains have this, so this is optional
+        // TODO: remove this. it should only be done by apply_top_config
         let private_rpcs = if top_config.private_rpcs.is_none() {
             warn!("No private relays configured. Any transactions will be broadcast to the public mempool!");
             None
@@ -515,6 +462,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
 
         // prepare a Web3Rpcs to hold all our 4337 Abstraction Bundler connections
         // only some chains have this, so this is optional
+        // TODO: remove this. it should only be done by apply_top_config
         let bundler_4337_rpcs = if top_config.bundler_4337_rpcs.is_none() {
             warn!("No bundler_4337_rpcs configured");
             None
@@ -545,8 +493,6 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
             balanced_rpcs,
             bundler_4337_rpcs,
             config: top_config.app.clone(),
-            db_conn,
-            db_replica,
             frontend_port: frontend_port.clone(),
             frontend_ip_rate_limiter,
             frontend_registered_user_rate_limiter,
@@ -568,31 +514,47 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
             watch_consensus_head_receiver,
         };
 
+        // TODO: do apply_top_config once we don't duplicate the db
+        if let Err(err) = app.apply_top_config_db(&top_config).await {
+            warn!(?err, "unable to fully apply config while starting!");
+        };
+
         let app = Arc::new(app);
 
         // watch for config changes
-        // TODO: initial config reload should be from this channel. not from the call to spawn
-
-        let (new_top_config_sender, mut new_top_config_receiver) = watch::channel(top_config);
-
+        // TODO: move this to its own function/struct
         {
             let app = app.clone();
             let config_handle = tokio::spawn(async move {
                 loop {
                     let new_top_config = new_top_config_receiver.borrow_and_update().to_owned();
 
-                    if let Err(err) = app.apply_top_config(new_top_config).await {
-                        error!("unable to apply config! {:?}", err);
-                    };
+                    // TODO: compare new and old here? the sender should be doing that already but maybe its better here
 
-                    new_top_config_receiver
-                        .changed()
-                        .await
-                        .web3_context("failed awaiting top_config change")?;
+                    if let Err(err) = app.apply_top_config_rpcs(&new_top_config).await {
+                        error!(?err, "unable to apply config! Retrying in 10 seconds (or if the config changes)");
+
+                        select! {
+                            _ = config_watcher_shutdown_receiver.recv() => {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            _ = sleep(Duration::from_secs(10)) => {}
+                            _ = new_top_config_receiver.changed() => {}
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        select! {
+                            _ = config_watcher_shutdown_receiver.recv() => {
+                                break;
+                            }
+                            _ = new_top_config_receiver.changed() => {}
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
+
+                Ok(())
             });
 
-            app_handles.push(config_handle);
+            important_background_handles.push(config_handle);
         }
 
         if important_background_handles.is_empty() {
@@ -616,41 +578,167 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         })
     }
 
-    pub async fn apply_top_config(&self, new_top_config: TopConfig) -> Web3ProxyResult<()> {
-        // TODO: also update self.config from new_top_config.app
+    pub async fn apply_top_config(&self, new_top_config: &TopConfig) -> Web3ProxyResult<()> {
+        // TODO: update self.config from new_top_config.app (or move it entirely to a global)
+
+        // connect to the db first
+        let db = self.apply_top_config_db(new_top_config).await;
+
+        // then refresh rpcs
+        let rpcs = self.apply_top_config_rpcs(new_top_config).await;
+
+        // error if either failed
+        // TODO: if both error, log both errors
+        db?;
+        rpcs?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    async fn apply_top_config_rpcs(&self, new_top_config: &TopConfig) -> Web3ProxyResult<()> {
         info!("applying new config");
 
-        // connect to the backends
-        self.balanced_rpcs
-            .apply_server_configs(self, new_top_config.balanced_rpcs)
+        let balanced = self
+            .balanced_rpcs
+            .apply_server_configs(self, new_top_config.balanced_rpcs.clone())
             .await
-            .web3_context("updating balanced rpcs")?;
+            .web3_context("updating balanced rpcs");
 
-        if let Some(private_rpc_configs) = new_top_config.private_rpcs {
+        let private = if let Some(private_rpc_configs) = new_top_config.private_rpcs.clone() {
             if let Some(ref private_rpcs) = self.private_rpcs {
                 private_rpcs
                     .apply_server_configs(self, private_rpc_configs)
                     .await
-                    .web3_context("updating private_rpcs")?;
+                    .web3_context("updating private_rpcs")
             } else {
                 // TODO: maybe we should have private_rpcs just be empty instead of being None
                 todo!("handle toggling private_rpcs")
             }
-        }
+        } else {
+            Ok(())
+        };
 
-        if let Some(bundler_4337_rpc_configs) = new_top_config.bundler_4337_rpcs {
-            if let Some(ref bundler_4337_rpcs) = self.bundler_4337_rpcs {
-                bundler_4337_rpcs
-                    .apply_server_configs(self, bundler_4337_rpc_configs)
-                    .await
-                    .web3_context("updating bundler_4337_rpcs")?;
+        let bundler_4337 =
+            if let Some(bundler_4337_rpc_configs) = new_top_config.bundler_4337_rpcs.clone() {
+                if let Some(ref bundler_4337_rpcs) = self.bundler_4337_rpcs {
+                    bundler_4337_rpcs
+                        .apply_server_configs(self, bundler_4337_rpc_configs.clone())
+                        .await
+                        .web3_context("updating bundler_4337_rpcs")
+                } else {
+                    // TODO: maybe we should have bundler_4337_rpcs just be empty instead of being None
+                    todo!("handle toggling bundler_4337_rpcs")
+                }
             } else {
-                // TODO: maybe we should have bundler_4337_rpcs just be empty instead of being None
-                todo!("handle toggling bundler_4337_rpcs")
-            }
-        }
+                Ok(())
+            };
 
-        info!("config applied successfully");
+        // TODO: log all the errors if there are multiple
+        balanced?;
+        private?;
+        bundler_4337?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub async fn apply_top_config_db(&self, new_top_config: &TopConfig) -> Web3ProxyResult<()> {
+        // TODO: get the actual value
+        let num_workers = 2;
+
+        // connect to the db
+        // THIS DOES NOT RUN MIGRATIONS!
+        if let Some(db_url) = new_top_config.app.db_url.clone() {
+            let db_min_connections = new_top_config
+                .app
+                .db_min_connections
+                .unwrap_or(num_workers as u32);
+
+            // TODO: what default multiple?
+            let db_max_connections = new_top_config
+                .app
+                .db_max_connections
+                .unwrap_or(db_min_connections * 2);
+
+            let db_conn = if let Ok(old_db_conn) = global_db_conn().await {
+                // TODO: compare old settings with new settings. don't always re-use!
+                Ok(old_db_conn)
+            } else {
+                connect_db(db_url.clone(), db_min_connections, db_max_connections)
+                    .await
+                    .map_err(|err| DatabaseError::Connect(Arc::new(err)))
+            };
+
+            let db_replica = if let Ok(db_conn) = db_conn.as_ref() {
+                let db_replica =
+                    if let Some(db_replica_url) = new_top_config.app.db_replica_url.clone() {
+                        if db_replica_url == db_url {
+                            // url is the same. do not make a new connection or we might go past our max connections
+                            Ok(db_conn.clone().into())
+                        } else {
+                            let db_replica_min_connections = new_top_config
+                                .app
+                                .db_replica_min_connections
+                                .unwrap_or(db_min_connections);
+
+                            let db_replica_max_connections = new_top_config
+                                .app
+                                .db_replica_max_connections
+                                .unwrap_or(db_max_connections);
+
+                            let db_replica = if let Ok(old_db_replica) = global_db_conn().await {
+                                // TODO: compare old settings with new settings. don't always re-use!
+                                Ok(old_db_replica)
+                            } else {
+                                connect_db(
+                                    db_replica_url,
+                                    db_replica_min_connections,
+                                    db_replica_max_connections,
+                                )
+                                .await
+                                .map_err(|err| DatabaseError::Connect(Arc::new(err)))
+                            };
+
+                            // if db_replica is error, but db_conn is success. log error and just use db_conn
+
+                            if let Err(err) = db_replica.as_ref() {
+                                error!(?err, "db replica is down! using primary");
+
+                                Ok(db_conn.clone().into())
+                            } else {
+                                db_replica.map(Into::into)
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } else {
+                        // just clone so that we don't need a bunch of checks all over our code
+                        trace!("no db replica configured");
+                        Ok(db_conn.clone().into())
+                    };
+
+                // db and replica are connected. try to migrate
+                if let Err(err) = migrate_db(db_conn, false).await {
+                    error!(?err, "unable to migrate!");
+                }
+
+                db_replica
+            } else {
+                db_conn.clone().map(Into::into)
+            };
+
+            let mut locked_conn = DB_CONN.write().await;
+            let mut locked_replica = DB_REPLICA.write().await;
+
+            *locked_conn = db_conn.clone();
+            *locked_replica = db_replica.clone();
+
+            db_conn?;
+            db_replica?;
+
+            info!("set global db connections");
+        } else if new_top_config.app.db_replica_url.is_some() {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("db_replica_url set, but no db_url set!").into());
+        } else {
+            warn!("no database. some features will be disabled");
+        };
 
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -662,7 +750,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
     pub fn influxdb_client(&self) -> Web3ProxyResult<&influxdb2::Client> {
         self.influxdb_client
             .as_ref()
-            .ok_or(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabase)
+            .ok_or(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabaseConfigured)
     }
 
     /// an ethers provider that you can use with ether's abigen.
@@ -702,8 +790,8 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         #[derive(Default, Serialize)]
         struct UserCount(i64);
 
-        let user_count: UserCount = if let Ok(db) = self.db_conn() {
-            match user::Entity::find().count(db).await {
+        let user_count: UserCount = if let Ok(db) = global_db_conn().await {
+            match user::Entity::find().count(&db).await {
                 Ok(user_count) => UserCount(user_count as i64),
                 Err(err) => {
                     warn!(?err, "unable to count users");
@@ -864,9 +952,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         method: &str,
         params: P,
     ) -> Web3ProxyResult<R> {
-        let db_conn = self.db_conn().ok().cloned();
-
-        let authorization = Arc::new(Authorization::internal(db_conn)?);
+        let authorization = Arc::new(Authorization::internal()?);
 
         self.authorized_request(method, params, authorization).await
     }
@@ -988,29 +1074,9 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         Ok((collected, collected_rpcs))
     }
 
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn db_conn(&self) -> Web3ProxyResult<&DatabaseConnection> {
-        self.db_conn.as_ref().ok_or(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabase)
-    }
-
-    #[inline]
-    pub async fn db_transaction(&self) -> Web3ProxyResult<DatabaseTransaction> {
-        if let Some(ref db_conn) = self.db_conn {
-            let x = db_conn.begin().await?;
-            Ok(x)
-        } else {
-            Err(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabase)
-        }
-    }
-
-    #[inline]
-    pub fn db_replica(&self) -> Web3ProxyResult<&DatabaseReplica> {
-        self.db_replica.as_ref().ok_or(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabase)
-    }
-
     pub async fn redis_conn(&self) -> Web3ProxyResult<redis_rate_limiter::RedisConnection> {
         match self.vredis_pool.as_ref() {
-            None => Err(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabase),
+            None => Err(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabaseConfigured),
             Some(redis_pool) => {
                 // TODO: add a From for this
                 let redis_conn = redis_pool.get().await.context("redis pool error")?;
@@ -1452,7 +1518,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
                                         .zadd(recent_tx_hash_key, hashed_tx_hash.to_string(), now)
                                         .await?;
                                 }
-                                Err(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabase) => {},
+                                Err(Web3ProxyError::NoDatabaseConfigured) => {},
                                 Err(err) => {
                                     warn!(
                                         ?err,
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/balance.rs b/web3_proxy/src/balance.rs
index 4db43ea5..5b2a5169 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/balance.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/balance.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use migration::{Func, SimpleExpr};
 use serde::ser::SerializeStruct;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::json;
-use tracing::info;
+use tracing::trace;
 
 /// Implements the balance getter which combines data from several tables
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Deserialize)]
@@ -220,8 +220,7 @@ impl Balance {
             user_id,
         };
 
-        // TODO: lower log level
-        info!("balance: {:#}", json!(&balance));
+        trace!("balance: {:#}", json!(&balance));
 
         // Return None if there is no entry
         Ok(Some(balance))
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/caches.rs b/web3_proxy/src/caches.rs
index ab5c7695..9624929b 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/caches.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/caches.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::balance::Balance;
-use crate::errors::Web3ProxyResult;
+use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyResult};
 use crate::frontend::authorization::{AuthorizationChecks, RpcSecretKey};
 use derive_more::From;
 use entities::rpc_key;
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ impl UserBalanceCache {
                 };
                 trace!(?x, "from database");
 
-                Ok(Arc::new(AsyncRwLock::new(x)))
+                Ok::<_, Web3ProxyError>(Arc::new(AsyncRwLock::new(x)))
             })
             .await?;
 
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/config.rs b/web3_proxy/src/config.rs
index 7d51b8cb..5fe5a79c 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/config.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/config.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ use ethers::prelude::{Address, TxHash};
 use ethers::types::{U256, U64};
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use migration::sea_orm::prelude::Decimal;
-use migration::sea_orm::DatabaseConnection;
 use sentry::types::Dsn;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use serde_inline_default::serde_inline_default;
@@ -276,7 +275,6 @@ impl Web3RpcConfig {
     pub async fn spawn(
         self,
         name: String,
-        db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
         redis_pool: Option<redis_rate_limiter::RedisPool>,
         chain_id: u64,
         block_interval: Duration,
@@ -293,7 +291,6 @@ impl Web3RpcConfig {
             self,
             name,
             chain_id,
-            db_conn,
             http_client,
             redis_pool,
             block_interval,
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs b/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs
index e359f7e8..bc577d65 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ impl From<Web3ProxyError> for Web3ProxyResult<()> {
     }
 }
 
-// TODO: replace all String with `Cow<'static, str>`
 #[derive(Debug, Display, Error, From)]
 pub enum Web3ProxyError {
     Abi(ethers::abi::Error),
@@ -59,6 +58,7 @@ pub enum Web3ProxyError {
     BadRouting,
     Contract(ContractError<EthersHttpProvider>),
     Database(DbErr),
+    DatabaseArc(Arc<DbErr>),
     Decimal(DecimalError),
     EthersHttpClient(ethers::prelude::HttpClientError),
     EthersProvider(ethers::prelude::ProviderError),
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ pub enum Web3ProxyError {
     NoBlockNumberOrHash,
     NoBlocksKnown,
     NoConsensusHeadBlock,
-    NoDatabase,
+    NoDatabaseConfigured,
     NoHandleReady,
     NoServersSynced,
     #[display(fmt = "{}/{}", num_known, min_head_rpcs)]
@@ -271,6 +271,17 @@ impl Web3ProxyError {
                     },
                 )
             }
+            Self::DatabaseArc(err) => {
+                error!(?err, "database (arc) err: {}", err);
+                (
+                    StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+                    JsonRpcErrorData {
+                        message: "database (arc) error!".into(),
+                        code: StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR.as_u16().into(),
+                        data: None,
+                    },
+                )
+            }
             Self::Decimal(err) => {
                 debug!(?err, "Decimal Error: {}", err);
                 (
@@ -614,13 +625,13 @@ impl Web3ProxyError {
                     },
                 )
             }
-            Self::NoDatabase => {
+            Self::NoDatabaseConfigured => {
                 // TODO: this needs more context
-                error!("no database configured");
+                debug!("no database configured");
                 (
                     StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
                     JsonRpcErrorData {
-                        message: "no database configured!".into(),
+                        message: "no database configured! this request needs a database".into(),
                         code: StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR.as_u16().into(),
                         data: None,
                     },
@@ -1088,6 +1099,26 @@ impl Web3ProxyError {
 
         (status_code, Json(response)).into_response()
     }
+
+    /// some things should keep going even if the db is down
+    pub fn split_db_errors(&self) -> Result<&Self, &Self> {
+        match self {
+            Web3ProxyError::NoDatabaseConfigured => Ok(self),
+            Web3ProxyError::Database(err) => {
+                warn!(?err, "db error while checking rpc key authorization");
+                Ok(self)
+            }
+            Web3ProxyError::DatabaseArc(err) => {
+                warn!(?err, "db arc error while checking rpc key authorization");
+                Ok(self)
+            }
+            Web3ProxyError::Arc(x) => {
+                // errors from inside moka cache helpers are wrapped in an Arc
+                x.split_db_errors()
+            }
+            _ => Err(self),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl From<ethers::types::ParseBytesError> for Web3ProxyError {
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/admin.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/admin.rs
index a8064858..d270809a 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/admin.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/admin.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::Web3ProxyResponse;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext};
 use crate::frontend::users::authentication::PostLogin;
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use crate::premium::{get_user_and_tier_from_address, grant_premium_tier};
 use crate::user_token::UserBearerToken;
 use axum::{
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ use http::StatusCode;
 use migration::sea_orm::prelude::{Decimal, Uuid};
 use migration::sea_orm::{
     self, ActiveModelTrait, ColumnTrait, EntityTrait, IntoActiveModel, QueryFilter,
+    TransactionTrait,
 };
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::json;
@@ -57,7 +59,8 @@ pub async fn admin_increase_balance(
     let caller = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
     // Establish connections
-    let txn = app.db_transaction().await?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
+    let txn = db_conn.begin().await?;
 
     // Check if the caller is an admin (if not, return early)
     let admin_entry: admin::Model = admin::Entity::find()
@@ -90,7 +93,7 @@ pub async fn admin_increase_balance(
     // Invalidate the user_balance_cache for this user:
     if let Err(err) = app
         .user_balance_cache
-        .invalidate(&user_entry.id, app.db_conn()?, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
+        .invalidate(&user_entry.id, &db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
         .await
     {
         warn!(?err, "unable to invalidate caches");
@@ -194,8 +197,8 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_get(
         resources: vec![],
     };
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let admin = user::Entity::find()
         .filter(user::Column::Address.eq(admin_address.as_bytes()))
@@ -219,7 +222,7 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_get(
     let now = Utc::now();
     let delete_result = pending_login::Entity::delete_many()
         .filter(pending_login::Column::ExpiresAt.lte(now))
-        .exec(db_conn)
+        .exec(&db_conn)
         .await?;
     trace!("cleared expired pending_logins: {:?}", delete_result);
 
@@ -233,7 +236,7 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_get(
     };
 
     trail
-        .save(db_conn)
+        .save(&db_conn)
         .await
         .web3_context("saving user's pending_login")?;
 
@@ -256,7 +259,7 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_get(
     };
 
     user_pending_login
-        .save(db_conn)
+        .save(&db_conn)
         .await
         .web3_context("saving an admin trail pre login")?;
 
@@ -333,7 +336,7 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_post(
     })?;
 
     // fetch the message we gave them from our database
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let user_pending_login = pending_login::Entity::find()
         .filter(pending_login::Column::Nonce.eq(Uuid::from(login_nonce)))
@@ -376,7 +379,7 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_post(
         .await?
         .web3_context("admin address was not found!")?;
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
     // Add a message that the admin has logged in
     // Note that the admin is trying to log in as this user
@@ -388,7 +391,7 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_post(
         ..Default::default()
     };
     trail
-        .save(db_conn)
+        .save(&db_conn)
         .await
         .web3_context("saving an admin trail post login")?;
 
@@ -437,11 +440,15 @@ pub async fn admin_imitate_login_post(
     };
 
     user_login
-        .save(db_conn)
+        .save(&db_conn)
         .await
         .web3_context("saving user login")?;
 
-    if let Err(err) = user_pending_login.into_active_model().delete(db_conn).await {
+    if let Err(err) = user_pending_login
+        .into_active_model()
+        .delete(&db_conn)
+        .await
+    {
         warn!(none=?login_nonce.0, ?err, "Failed to delete nonce");
     }
 
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/authorization.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/authorization.rs
index 64667144..8300d96b 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/authorization.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/authorization.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use crate::app::{Web3ProxyApp, APP_USER_AGENT};
 use crate::balance::Balance;
 use crate::caches::RegisteredUserRateLimitKey;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResult};
+use crate::globals::global_db_replica_conn;
 use crate::jsonrpc::{JsonRpcForwardedResponse, JsonRpcRequest};
 use crate::rpcs::blockchain::Web3ProxyBlock;
 use crate::rpcs::one::Web3Rpc;
@@ -26,8 +27,7 @@ use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use http::HeaderValue;
 use ipnet::IpNet;
 use migration::sea_orm::prelude::Decimal;
-use migration::sea_orm::{ColumnTrait, DatabaseConnection, EntityTrait, QueryFilter};
-use parking_lot::Mutex;
+use migration::sea_orm::{ColumnTrait, EntityTrait, QueryFilter};
 use rdkafka::message::{Header as KafkaHeader, OwnedHeaders as KafkaOwnedHeaders, OwnedMessage};
 use rdkafka::producer::{FutureProducer, FutureRecord};
 use rdkafka::util::Timeout as KafkaTimeout;
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ use tokio::sync::RwLock as AsyncRwLock;
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, OwnedSemaphorePermit, Semaphore};
 use tokio::task::JoinHandle;
 use tokio::time::Instant;
-use tracing::{error, info, trace, warn};
+use tracing::{error, trace, warn};
 use ulid::Ulid;
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@ pub struct AuthorizationChecks {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Authorization {
     pub checks: AuthorizationChecks,
-    pub db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
     pub ip: IpAddr,
     pub origin: Option<Origin>,
     pub referer: Option<Referer>,
@@ -390,7 +389,7 @@ pub struct RequestMetadata {
 
 impl Default for Authorization {
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Authorization::internal(None).unwrap()
+        Authorization::internal().unwrap()
     }
 }
 
@@ -670,7 +669,7 @@ impl From<RpcSecretKey> for Uuid {
 }
 
 impl Authorization {
-    pub fn internal(db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>) -> Web3ProxyResult<Self> {
+    pub fn internal() -> Web3ProxyResult<Self> {
         let authorization_checks = AuthorizationChecks {
             // any error logs on a local (internal) query are likely problems. log them all
             log_revert_chance: 100,
@@ -683,7 +682,6 @@ impl Authorization {
 
         Self::try_new(
             authorization_checks,
-            db_conn,
             &ip,
             None,
             None,
@@ -694,7 +692,6 @@ impl Authorization {
 
     pub fn external(
         allowed_origin_requests_per_period: &HashMap<String, u64>,
-        db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
         ip: &IpAddr,
         origin: Option<&Origin>,
         proxy_mode: ProxyMode,
@@ -719,7 +716,6 @@ impl Authorization {
 
         Self::try_new(
             authorization_checks,
-            db_conn,
             ip,
             origin,
             referer,
@@ -731,7 +727,6 @@ impl Authorization {
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     pub fn try_new(
         authorization_checks: AuthorizationChecks,
-        db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
         ip: &IpAddr,
         origin: Option<&Origin>,
         referer: Option<&Referer>,
@@ -786,7 +781,6 @@ impl Authorization {
 
         Ok(Self {
             checks: authorization_checks,
-            db_conn,
             ip: *ip,
             origin: origin.cloned(),
             referer: referer.cloned(),
@@ -994,7 +988,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         let user_bearer_token = UserBearerToken::try_from(bearer)?;
 
         // get the attached address from the database for the given auth_token.
-        let db_replica = self.db_replica()?;
+        let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
         let user_bearer_uuid: Uuid = user_bearer_token.into();
 
@@ -1019,7 +1013,6 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         // we don't care about user agent or origin or referer
         let authorization = Authorization::external(
             &self.config.allowed_origin_requests_per_period,
-            self.db_conn().ok().cloned(),
             &ip,
             None,
             proxy_mode,
@@ -1074,7 +1067,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
     ) -> Web3ProxyResult<RateLimitResult> {
         if ip.is_loopback() {
             // TODO: localhost being unlimited should be optional
-            let authorization = Authorization::internal(self.db_conn().ok().cloned())?;
+            let authorization = Authorization::internal()?;
 
             return Ok(RateLimitResult::Allowed(authorization, None));
         }
@@ -1085,7 +1078,6 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         // they do check origin because we can override rate limits for some origins
         let authorization = Authorization::external(
             allowed_origin_requests_per_period,
-            self.db_conn().ok().cloned(),
             ip,
             origin,
             proxy_mode,
@@ -1145,7 +1137,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         let x = self
             .rpc_secret_key_cache
             .try_get_with_by_ref(rpc_secret_key, async move {
-                let db_replica = self.db_replica()?;
+                let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
                 // TODO: join the user table to this to return the User? we don't always need it
                 // TODO: join on secondary users
@@ -1270,7 +1262,7 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
                         let rpc_key_id =
                             Some(rpc_key_model.id.try_into().context("db ids are never 0")?);
 
-                        Ok(AuthorizationChecks {
+                        Ok::<_, Web3ProxyError>(AuthorizationChecks {
                             allowed_ips,
                             allowed_origins,
                             allowed_referers,
@@ -1307,10 +1299,25 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
         rpc_key: &RpcSecretKey,
         user_agent: Option<&UserAgent>,
     ) -> Web3ProxyResult<RateLimitResult> {
-        let authorization_checks = self.authorization_checks(proxy_mode, rpc_key).await?;
+        let authorization_checks = match self.authorization_checks(proxy_mode, rpc_key).await {
+            Ok(x) => x,
+            Err(err) => {
+                if let Ok(_err) = err.split_db_errors() {
+                    // // TODO: this is too verbose during an outage. the warnings on the config reloader should be fine
+                    // warn!(
+                    //     ?err,
+                    //     "db is down. cannot check rpc key. fallback to ip rate limits"
+                    // );
+                    return self.rate_limit_by_ip(ip, origin, proxy_mode).await;
+                }
+
+                return Err(err);
+            }
+        };
 
         // if no rpc_key_id matching the given rpc was found, then we can't rate limit by key
         if authorization_checks.rpc_secret_key_id.is_none() {
+            trace!("unknown key. falling back to free limits");
             return self.rate_limit_by_ip(ip, origin, proxy_mode).await;
         }
 
@@ -1320,7 +1327,6 @@ impl Web3ProxyApp {
 
         let authorization = Authorization::try_new(
             authorization_checks,
-            self.db_conn().ok().cloned(),
             ip,
             origin,
             referer,
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/mod.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/mod.rs
index 2ee643d7..6c5a074a 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/mod.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/mod.rs
@@ -259,25 +259,28 @@ pub async fn serve(
         .layer(Extension(Arc::new(response_cache)))
         // request id
         .layer(
-            TraceLayer::new_for_http().make_span_with(|request: &Request<Body>| {
-                // We get the request id from the header
-                // If no header, a new Ulid is created
-                // TODO: move this header name to config
-                let request_id = request
-                    .headers()
-                    .get("x-amzn-trace-id")
-                    .and_then(|x| x.to_str().ok())
-                    .map(ToString::to_string)
-                    .unwrap_or_else(|| Ulid::new().to_string());
+            TraceLayer::new_for_http()
+                .make_span_with(|request: &Request<Body>| {
+                    // We get the request id from the header
+                    // If no header, a new Ulid is created
+                    // TODO: move this header name to config
+                    let request_id = request
+                        .headers()
+                        .get("x-amzn-trace-id")
+                        .and_then(|x| x.to_str().ok())
+                        .map(ToString::to_string)
+                        .unwrap_or_else(|| Ulid::new().to_string());
 
-                // And then we put it along with other information into the `request` span
-                error_span!(
-                    "request",
-                    id = %request_id,
-                    // method = %request.method(),
-                    // path = %request.uri().path(),
-                )
-            }),
+                    // And then we put it along with other information into the `request` span
+                    error_span!(
+                        "request",
+                        id = %request_id,
+                        // method = %request.method(),
+                        // path = %request.uri().path(),
+                    )
+                })
+                // TODO: on failure that has the request and response body so we can debug more easily
+                .on_failure(()),
         )
         // 404 for any unknown routes
         .fallback(errors::handler_404);
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/rpc_proxy_ws.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/rpc_proxy_ws.rs
index d1a8538e..83164d19 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/rpc_proxy_ws.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/rpc_proxy_ws.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ use std::str::from_utf8_mut;
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::{broadcast, mpsc, OwnedSemaphorePermit, RwLock as AsyncRwLock};
-use tracing::{info, trace};
+use tracing::trace;
 
 /// How to select backend servers for a request
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, Default)]
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ async fn read_web3_socket(
                                 return;
                             }
                             Message::Close(_) => {
-                                info!("closing websocket connection");
+                                trace!("closing websocket connection");
                                 // TODO: do something to close subscriptions?
                                 let _ = close_sender.send(true);
                                 return;
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/authentication.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/authentication.rs
index 2cb95a8b..1d8975f4 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/authentication.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/authentication.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse};
 use crate::frontend::authorization::{login_is_authorized, RpcSecretKey};
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use crate::user_token::UserBearerToken;
 use axum::{
     extract::{Path, Query},
@@ -124,12 +125,12 @@ pub async fn user_login_get(
         resources: vec![],
     };
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
     // delete any expired logins
     if let Err(err) = login::Entity::delete_many()
         .filter(login::Column::ExpiresAt.lte(now))
-        .exec(db_conn)
+        .exec(&db_conn)
         .await
     {
         warn!(?err, "expired_logins");
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ pub async fn user_login_get(
     // delete any expired pending logins
     if let Err(err) = pending_login::Entity::delete_many()
         .filter(pending_login::Column::ExpiresAt.lte(now))
-        .exec(db_conn)
+        .exec(&db_conn)
         .await
     {
         warn!(?err, "expired_pending_logins");
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ pub async fn user_login_get(
     };
 
     user_pending_login
-        .save(db_conn)
+        .save(&db_conn)
         .await
         .web3_context("saving user's pending_login")?;
 
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ pub async fn user_login_post(
     let login_nonce = UserBearerToken::from_str(&their_msg.nonce)?;
 
     // fetch the message we gave them from our database
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let user_pending_login = pending_login::Entity::find()
         .filter(pending_login::Column::Nonce.eq(Uuid::from(login_nonce)))
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ pub async fn user_login_post(
         .one(db_replica.as_ref())
         .await?;
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
     let (caller, user_rpc_keys, status_code) = match caller {
         None => {
@@ -384,7 +385,7 @@ pub async fn user_login_post(
             // the user is already registered
             let user_rpc_keys = rpc_key::Entity::find()
                 .filter(rpc_key::Column::UserId.eq(caller.id))
-                .all(db_conn)
+                .all(&db_conn)
                 .await
                 .web3_context("failed loading user's key")?;
 
@@ -411,11 +412,15 @@ pub async fn user_login_post(
     };
 
     user_login
-        .save(db_conn)
+        .save(&db_conn)
         .await
         .web3_context("saving user login")?;
 
-    if let Err(err) = user_pending_login.into_active_model().delete(db_conn).await {
+    if let Err(err) = user_pending_login
+        .into_active_model()
+        .delete(&db_conn)
+        .await
+    {
         error!("Failed to delete nonce:{}: {}", login_nonce, err);
     }
 
@@ -438,16 +443,15 @@ pub async fn user_login_post(
 /// `POST /user/logout` - Forget the bearer token in the `Authentication` header.
 #[debug_handler]
 pub async fn user_logout_post(
-    Extension(app): Extension<Arc<Web3ProxyApp>>,
     TypedHeader(Authorization(bearer)): TypedHeader<Authorization<Bearer>>,
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
     let user_bearer = UserBearerToken::try_from(bearer)?;
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
     if let Err(err) = login::Entity::delete_many()
         .filter(login::Column::BearerToken.eq(user_bearer.uuid()))
-        .exec(db_conn)
+        .exec(&db_conn)
         .await
     {
         warn!(key=%user_bearer.redis_key(), ?err, "Failed to delete from redis");
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/mod.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/mod.rs
index 1caaf3a3..3d428fa7 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/mod.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/mod.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pub mod subuser;
 
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse};
+use crate::globals::global_db_transaction;
 use axum::{
     headers::{authorization::Bearer, Authorization},
     response::IntoResponse,
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ pub async fn user_post(
         }
     }
 
-    let txn = app.db_transaction().await?;
+    let txn = global_db_transaction().await?;
 
     // update the referral code IFF they do not already have one set
     if let Some(x) = payload.referral_code {
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment.rs
index 2a2f7e1b..265fabdd 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use crate::balance::Balance;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse, Web3ProxyResult};
 use crate::frontend::authorization::login_is_authorized;
 use crate::frontend::users::authentication::register_new_user;
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use crate::premium::{get_user_and_tier_from_address, grant_premium_tier};
 use anyhow::Context;
 use axum::{
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_get(
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let user_balance = match Balance::try_from_db(db_replica.as_ref(), user.id).await? {
         None => Balance::default(),
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ pub async fn user_chain_deposits_get(
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Filter by user ...
     let receipts = increase_on_chain_balance_receipt::Entity::find()
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ pub async fn user_stripe_deposits_get(
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Filter by user ...
     let receipts = stripe_increase_balance_receipt::Entity::find()
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ pub async fn user_admin_deposits_get(
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Filter by user ...
     let receipts = admin_increase_balance_receipt::Entity::find()
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_post(
             Web3ProxyError::BadRequest(format!("unable to parse tx_hash: {}", err).into())
         })?;
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
     // get the transaction receipt
     let transaction_receipt = app
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_post(
             true
         };
 
-    let uncle_hashes = find_uncles.all(db_conn).await?;
+    let uncle_hashes = find_uncles.all(&db_conn).await?;
 
     let uncle_hashes: HashSet<_> = uncle_hashes
         .into_iter()
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_post(
         .filter(increase_on_chain_balance_receipt::Column::TxHash.eq(tx_hash.encode_hex()))
         .filter(increase_on_chain_balance_receipt::Column::ChainId.eq(app.config.chain_id))
         .filter(increase_on_chain_balance_receipt::Column::BlockHash.eq(block_hash.encode_hex()))
-        .one(db_conn)
+        .one(&db_conn)
         .await?
         .is_some()
     {
@@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_post(
             // invalidate the cache as well
             if let Err(err) = app
                 .user_balance_cache
-                .invalidate(&recipient.id, db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
+                .invalidate(&recipient.id, &db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
                 .await
             {
                 warn!(?err, user_id=%recipient.id, "unable to invalidate cache");
@@ -484,12 +485,12 @@ pub async fn handle_uncle_block(
     // user_id -> balance that we need to subtract
     let mut reversed_balances: HashMap<u64, Decimal> = HashMap::new();
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
     // delete any deposit txids with uncle_hash
     for reversed_deposit in increase_on_chain_balance_receipt::Entity::find()
         .filter(increase_on_chain_balance_receipt::Column::BlockHash.eq(uncle_hash.encode_hex()))
-        .all(db_conn)
+        .all(&db_conn)
         .await?
     {
         let user_id = reversed_deposit.deposit_to_user_id;
@@ -499,11 +500,11 @@ pub async fn handle_uncle_block(
         *reversed_balance += reversed_deposit.amount;
 
         // TODO: instead of delete, mark as uncled? seems like it would bloat the db unnecessarily. a stat should be enough
-        reversed_deposit.delete(db_conn).await?;
+        reversed_deposit.delete(&db_conn).await?;
 
         if let Err(err) = app
             .user_balance_cache
-            .invalidate(&user_id, db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
+            .invalidate(&user_id, &db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
             .await
         {
             warn!(%user_id, ?err, "unable to invalidate caches");
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment_stripe.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment_stripe.rs
index 8ae3b3f5..cb447d77 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment_stripe.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/payment_stripe.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse};
+use crate::globals::global_db_conn;
 use crate::premium::grant_premium_tier;
 use anyhow::Context;
 use axum::{response::IntoResponse, Extension};
@@ -68,13 +69,15 @@ pub async fn user_balance_stripe_post(
         return Ok("Received Webhook".into_response());
     }
 
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn().context("query_user_stats needs a db")?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn()
+        .await
+        .web3_context("query_user_stats needs a db")?;
 
     if stripe_increase_balance_receipt::Entity::find()
         .filter(
             stripe_increase_balance_receipt::Column::StripePaymentIntendId.eq(intent.id.as_str()),
         )
-        .one(db_conn)
+        .one(&db_conn)
         .await?
         .is_some()
     {
@@ -93,7 +96,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_stripe_post(
     ))?;
 
     let recipient: Option<user::Model> = user::Entity::find_by_id(recipient_user_id)
-        .one(db_conn)
+        .one(&db_conn)
         .await?;
 
     // we do a fixed 2 decimal points because we only accept USD for now
@@ -121,7 +124,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_stripe_post(
             currency=%intent.currency, %recipient_user_id, %intent.id,
             "Please refund this transaction!",
         );
-        let _ = insert_receipt_model.save(db_conn).await;
+        let _ = insert_receipt_model.save(&db_conn).await;
 
         return Ok("Received Webhook".into_response());
     }
@@ -145,7 +148,7 @@ pub async fn user_balance_stripe_post(
             // Finally invalidate the cache as well
             if let Err(err) = app
                 .user_balance_cache
-                .invalidate(&recipient.id, db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
+                .invalidate(&recipient.id, &db_conn, &app.rpc_secret_key_cache)
                 .await
             {
                 warn!(?err, "unable to invalidate caches");
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/referral.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/referral.rs
index 29ee5fba..f7d09f88 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/referral.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/referral.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 //! Handle registration, logins, and managing account data.
-use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::Web3ProxyResponse;
+use crate::globals::global_db_conn;
 use crate::referral_code::ReferralCode;
+use crate::{app::Web3ProxyApp, globals::global_db_replica_conn};
 use anyhow::Context;
 use axum::{
     extract::Query,
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ pub async fn user_referral_link_get(
     // First get the bearer token and check if the user is logged in
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Then get the referral token. If one doesn't exist, create one
     let user_referrer = referrer::Entity::find()
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ pub async fn user_referral_link_get(
         Some(x) => (x.referral_code, StatusCode::OK),
         None => {
             // Connect to the database for writes
-            let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+            let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
             let referral_code = ReferralCode::default().to_string();
 
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ pub async fn user_referral_link_get(
                 referral_code: sea_orm::ActiveValue::Set(referral_code.clone()),
                 ..Default::default()
             };
-            referrer_entry.save(db_conn).await?;
+            referrer_entry.save(&db_conn).await?;
 
             (referral_code, StatusCode::CREATED)
         }
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ pub async fn user_used_referral_stats(
     // First get the bearer token and check if the user is logged in
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Get all referral records associated with this user
     let referrals = referee::Entity::find()
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ pub async fn user_shared_referral_stats(
     // First get the bearer token and check if the user is logged in
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Get all referral records associated with this user
     let query_result = referrer::Entity::find()
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/rpc_keys.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/rpc_keys.rs
index f725f616..dce4fc22 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/rpc_keys.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/rpc_keys.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 use super::super::authorization::RpcSecretKey;
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse};
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use axum::headers::{Header, Origin, Referer, UserAgent};
 use axum::{
     headers::{authorization::Bearer, Authorization},
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ pub async fn rpc_keys_get(
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // This is basically completely copied from sea-orm. Not optimal, but it keeps the format identical to before (while adding the final key)
     // We could also pack the below stuff into it's subfield, but then we would destroy the format. Both options are fine for now though
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ pub async fn rpc_keys_management(
 
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let mut uk = match payload.key_id {
         Some(existing_key_id) => {
@@ -340,9 +341,9 @@ pub async fn rpc_keys_management(
     }
 
     let uk = if uk.is_changed() {
-        let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+        let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
-        uk.save(db_conn)
+        uk.save(&db_conn)
             .await
             .web3_context("Failed saving user key")?
     } else {
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/stats.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/stats.rs
index 917311f3..8f55bf64 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/stats.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/stats.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 //! Handle registration, logins, and managing account data.
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse};
+use crate::globals::global_db_replica_conn;
 use crate::http_params::{
     get_chain_id_from_params, get_page_from_params, get_query_start_from_params,
 };
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ pub async fn user_revert_logs_get(
     response.insert("chain_id", json!(chain_id));
     response.insert("query_start", json!(query_start.timestamp() as u64));
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let uks = rpc_key::Entity::find()
         .filter(rpc_key::Column::UserId.eq(user.id))
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/subuser.rs b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/subuser.rs
index 19be184d..f744c1d3 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/subuser.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/frontend/users/subuser.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResponse};
 use crate::frontend::authorization::RpcSecretKey;
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use anyhow::Context;
 use axum::{
     extract::Query,
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ pub async fn get_keys_as_subuser(
     // First, authenticate
     let subuser = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // TODO: JOIN over RPC_KEY, SUBUSER, PRIMARY_USER and return these items
 
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ pub async fn get_subusers(
     // First, authenticate
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     let rpc_key: u64 = params
         .remove("key_id")
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ pub async fn modify_subuser(
     // First, authenticate
     let user = app.bearer_is_authorized(bearer).await?;
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     trace!("Parameters are: {:?}", params);
 
@@ -256,7 +257,8 @@ pub async fn modify_subuser(
     }
 
     // TODO: There is a good chunk of duplicate logic as login-post. Consider refactoring ...
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
+
     let (subuser, _subuser_rpc_keys, _status_code) = match subuser {
         None => {
             // First add a user; the only thing we need from them is an address
@@ -332,12 +334,12 @@ pub async fn modify_subuser(
             let mut active_subuser_entry_secondary_user = secondary_user.into_active_model();
             if !keep_subuser {
                 // Remove the user
-                active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.delete(db_conn).await?;
+                active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.delete(&db_conn).await?;
                 action = "removed";
             } else {
                 // Just change the role
                 active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.role = sea_orm::Set(new_role.clone());
-                active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.save(db_conn).await?;
+                active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.save(&db_conn).await?;
                 action = "role modified";
             }
         }
@@ -348,7 +350,7 @@ pub async fn modify_subuser(
                 role: sea_orm::Set(new_role.clone()),
                 ..Default::default()
             };
-            active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.insert(db_conn).await?;
+            active_subuser_entry_secondary_user.insert(&db_conn).await?;
             action = "added";
         }
         _ => {
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/globals.rs b/web3_proxy/src/globals.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5b67c173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/globals.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+use crate::{errors::Web3ProxyError, relational_db::DatabaseReplica};
+use derivative::Derivative;
+use migration::{
+    sea_orm::{DatabaseConnection, DatabaseTransaction, TransactionTrait},
+    DbErr,
+};
+use std::sync::{Arc, LazyLock};
+use tokio::sync::RwLock as AsyncRwLock;
+
+pub static DB_CONN: LazyLock<AsyncRwLock<Result<DatabaseConnection, DatabaseError>>> =
+    LazyLock::new(|| AsyncRwLock::new(Err(DatabaseError::NotConfigured)));
+
+pub static DB_REPLICA: LazyLock<AsyncRwLock<Result<DatabaseReplica, DatabaseError>>> =
+    LazyLock::new(|| AsyncRwLock::new(Err(DatabaseError::NotConfigured)));
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Derivative)]
+pub enum DatabaseError {
+    /// no database configured. depending on what you need, this may or may not be a problem
+    NotConfigured,
+    /// an error that happened when creating the connection pool
+    Connect(Arc<DbErr>),
+    /// an error that just happened
+    Begin(Arc<DbErr>),
+}
+
+impl From<DatabaseError> for Web3ProxyError {
+    fn from(value: DatabaseError) -> Self {
+        match value {
+            DatabaseError::NotConfigured => Self::NoDatabaseConfigured,
+            DatabaseError::Connect(err) | DatabaseError::Begin(err) => Self::DatabaseArc(err),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[inline]
+pub async fn global_db_conn() -> Result<DatabaseConnection, DatabaseError> {
+    DB_CONN.read().await.clone()
+}
+
+#[inline]
+pub async fn global_db_transaction() -> Result<DatabaseTransaction, DatabaseError> {
+    let x = global_db_conn().await?;
+
+    let x = x
+        .begin()
+        .await
+        .map_err(|x| DatabaseError::Begin(Arc::new(x)))?;
+
+    Ok(x)
+}
+
+#[inline]
+pub async fn global_db_replica_conn() -> Result<DatabaseReplica, DatabaseError> {
+    DB_REPLICA.read().await.clone()
+}
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/lib.rs b/web3_proxy/src/lib.rs
index 6919a8b8..d7476eb3 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#![feature(lazy_cell)]
 #![feature(let_chains)]
 #![feature(trait_alias)]
 #![forbid(unsafe_code)]
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ pub mod compute_units;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod errors;
 pub mod frontend;
+pub mod globals;
 pub mod http_params;
 pub mod jsonrpc;
 pub mod pagerduty;
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/relational_db.rs b/web3_proxy/src/relational_db.rs
index a4874b14..400fb00f 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/relational_db.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/relational_db.rs
@@ -34,15 +34,15 @@ pub async fn connect_db(
 
     // TODO: load all these options from the config file. i think docker mysql default max is 100
     // Amazon RDS Proxy default idle timeout is 1800 seconds
-    // TODO: sqlx info logging is way too verbose for production.
     db_opt
-        .acquire_timeout(Duration::from_secs(5))
-        .connect_timeout(Duration::from_secs(5))
+        .acquire_timeout(Duration::from_secs(3))
+        .connect_timeout(Duration::from_secs(3))
         .idle_timeout(Duration::from_secs(1795))
-        .min_connections(min_connections)
         .max_connections(max_connections)
-        .sqlx_logging_level(tracing::log::LevelFilter::Trace)
-        .sqlx_logging(true);
+        .max_lifetime(Duration::from_secs(60))
+        .min_connections(min_connections)
+        .sqlx_logging(true)
+        .sqlx_logging_level(tracing::log::LevelFilter::Trace);
 
     Database::connect(db_opt).await
 }
@@ -76,33 +76,23 @@ pub async fn migrate_db(
             .col(ColumnDef::new(Alias::new("locked")).boolean().default(true)),
     );
 
-    loop {
-        if Migrator::get_pending_migrations(db_conn).await?.is_empty() {
-            info!("no migrations to apply");
-            return Ok(());
+    if Migrator::get_pending_migrations(db_conn).await?.is_empty() {
+        info!("no migrations to apply");
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    info!("checking migration lock...");
+
+    // there are migrations to apply
+    // acquire a lock
+    if db_conn.execute(create_lock_statment).await.is_err() {
+        if override_existing_lock {
+            warn!("OVERRIDING EXISTING LOCK in 10 seconds! ctrl+c now if other migrations are actually running!");
+
+            sleep(Duration::from_secs(10)).await
+        } else {
+            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("Unable to acquire lock. if you are positive no migration is running, run \"web3_proxy_cli drop_migration_lock\""));
         }
-
-        info!("waiting for migration lock...");
-
-        // there are migrations to apply
-        // acquire a lock
-        if let Err(err) = db_conn.execute(create_lock_statment.clone()).await {
-            if override_existing_lock {
-                warn!("OVERRIDING EXISTING LOCK in 10 seconds! ctrl+c now if other migrations are actually running!");
-
-                sleep(Duration::from_secs(10)).await
-            } else {
-                debug!("Unable to acquire lock. if you are positive no migration is running, run \"web3_proxy_cli drop_migration_lock\". err={:?}", err);
-
-                // TODO: exponential backoff with jitter?
-                sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
-
-                continue;
-            }
-        }
-
-        debug!("migration lock acquired");
-        break;
     }
 
     info!("migrating...");
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/many.rs b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/many.rs
index ef0408f1..fdfff3ae 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/many.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/many.rs
@@ -179,7 +179,6 @@ impl Web3Rpcs {
                     return None;
                 }
 
-                let db_conn = app.db_conn().ok().cloned();
                 let http_client = app.http_client.clone();
                 let vredis_pool = app.vredis_pool.clone();
 
@@ -197,7 +196,6 @@ impl Web3Rpcs {
 
                 let handle = tokio::spawn(server_config.spawn(
                     server_name,
-                    db_conn,
                     vredis_pool,
                     chain_id,
                     block_interval,
@@ -372,11 +370,11 @@ impl Web3Rpcs {
         }
 
         if let Err(e) = try_join_all(futures).await {
-            error!("subscriptions over: {:?}", self);
+            error!(?self, "subscriptions over");
             return Err(e);
         }
 
-        info!("subscriptions over: {:?}", self);
+        info!(?self, "subscriptions over");
         Ok(())
     }
 
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs
index cb833a02..3b986d11 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
         config: Web3RpcConfig,
         name: String,
         chain_id: u64,
-        db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
         // optional because this is only used for http providers. websocket-only providers don't use it
         http_client: Option<reqwest::Client>,
         redis_pool: Option<RedisPool>,
@@ -183,7 +182,6 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
             block_data_limit,
             block_interval,
             created_at: Some(created_at),
-            db_conn,
             display_name: config.display_name,
             hard_limit,
             hard_limit_until: Some(hard_limit_until),
@@ -469,7 +467,7 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
 
                         let age = self.created_at.unwrap().elapsed().as_millis();
 
-                        debug!("clearing head block on {} ({}ms old)!", self, age);
+                        trace!("clearing head block on {} ({}ms old)!", self, age);
 
                         // send an empty block to take this server out of rotation
                         head_block_sender.send_replace(None);
@@ -676,7 +674,7 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
 
                     disconnect_watch_rx.changed().await?;
                 }
-                info!("disconnect triggered on {}", rpc);
+                trace!("disconnect triggered on {}", rpc);
                 Ok(())
             };
 
@@ -723,7 +721,7 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
                     sleep(Duration::from_secs(health_sleep_seconds)).await;
                 }
 
-                debug!("healthcheck loop on {} exited", rpc);
+                trace!("healthcheck loop on {} exited", rpc);
 
                 Ok(())
             };
@@ -747,6 +745,7 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
         }
 
         // exit if any of the futures exit
+        // TODO: have an enum for which one exited?
         let first_exit = futures.next().await;
 
         debug!(?first_exit, "subscriptions on {} exited", self);
@@ -858,7 +857,7 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
             .await?;
 
         if *subscribe_stop_rx.borrow() {
-            debug!(%self, "new heads subscription exited");
+            trace!(%self, "new heads subscription exited");
             Ok(())
         } else {
             Err(anyhow!("new_heads subscription exited. reconnect needed").into())
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/request.rs b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/request.rs
index 921eb709..40d146c8 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/request.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/request.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 use super::one::Web3Rpc;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyErrorContext, Web3ProxyResult};
 use crate::frontend::authorization::{Authorization, AuthorizationType};
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, DB_CONN};
 use crate::jsonrpc::{JsonRpcParams, JsonRpcResultData};
-use anyhow::Context;
 use chrono::Utc;
 use derive_more::From;
 use entities::revert_log;
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ impl Authorization {
             }
         };
 
-        let db_conn = self.db_conn.as_ref().context("no database connection")?;
+        let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
 
         // TODO: should the database set the timestamp?
         // we intentionally use "now" and not the time the request started
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ impl Authorization {
         };
 
         let rl = rl
-            .save(db_conn)
+            .save(&db_conn)
             .await
             .web3_context("Failed saving new revert log")?;
 
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ impl OpenRequestHandle {
                 if !["eth_call", "eth_estimateGas"].contains(&method) {
                     // trace!(%method, "skipping save on revert");
                     RequestErrorHandler::TraceLevel
-                } else if self.authorization.db_conn.is_some() {
+                } else if DB_CONN.read().await.is_ok() {
                     let log_revert_chance = self.authorization.checks.log_revert_chance;
 
                     if log_revert_chance == 0 {
@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@ impl OpenRequestHandle {
                     match serde_json::from_value::<EthCallParams>(json!(params)) {
                         Ok(params) => {
                             // spawn saving to the database so we don't slow down the request
+                            // TODO: log if this errors
                             let f = self.authorization.clone().save_revert(method, params.0 .0);
 
                             tokio::spawn(f);
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/stats/db_queries.rs b/web3_proxy/src/stats/db_queries.rs
index 7ffac642..055886b0 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/stats/db_queries.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/stats/db_queries.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use super::StatType;
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyApp;
 use crate::errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyResponse, Web3ProxyResult};
+use crate::globals::{global_db_conn, global_db_replica_conn};
 use crate::http_params::{
     get_chain_id_from_params, get_page_from_params, get_query_start_from_params,
     get_query_window_seconds_from_params, get_user_id_from_params,
@@ -61,13 +62,13 @@ pub async fn query_user_stats<'a>(
     params: &'a HashMap<String, String>,
     stat_response_type: StatType,
 ) -> Web3ProxyResponse {
-    let db_conn = app.db_conn()?;
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_conn = global_db_conn().await?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
     let mut redis_conn = app.redis_conn().await?;
 
     // get the user id first. if it is 0, we should use a cache on the app
     let user_id =
-        get_user_id_from_params(&mut redis_conn, db_conn, db_replica, bearer, params).await?;
+        get_user_id_from_params(&mut redis_conn, &db_conn, &db_replica, bearer, params).await?;
     // get the query window seconds now so that we can pick a cache with a good TTL
     // TODO: for now though, just do one cache. its easier
     let query_window_seconds = get_query_window_seconds_from_params(params)?;
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/stats/influxdb_queries.rs b/web3_proxy/src/stats/influxdb_queries.rs
index 3f2a3c7a..f801f9da 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/stats/influxdb_queries.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/stats/influxdb_queries.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use super::StatType;
 use crate::errors::Web3ProxyErrorContext;
+use crate::globals::global_db_replica_conn;
 use crate::{
     app::Web3ProxyApp,
     errors::{Web3ProxyError, Web3ProxyResponse},
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ pub async fn query_user_stats<'a>(
         ));
     }
 
-    let db_replica = app.db_replica()?;
+    let db_replica = global_db_replica_conn().await?;
 
     // Read the (optional) user-id from the request, this is the logic for subusers
     // If there is no bearer token, this is not allowed
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/stats/mod.rs b/web3_proxy/src/stats/mod.rs
index 9f5da9db..f61004f3 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/stats/mod.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/stats/mod.rs
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ impl RpcQueryStats {
         let mut authorization = metadata.authorization.take();
 
         if authorization.is_none() {
-            authorization = Some(Arc::new(Authorization::internal(None)?));
+            authorization = Some(Arc::new(Authorization::internal()?));
         }
 
         let authorization = authorization.expect("Authorization will always be set");
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/stats/stat_buffer.rs b/web3_proxy/src/stats/stat_buffer.rs
index a16044be..da30ca87 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/stats/stat_buffer.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/stats/stat_buffer.rs
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@ use super::{AppStat, FlushedStats, RpcQueryKey};
 use crate::app::Web3ProxyJoinHandle;
 use crate::caches::{RpcSecretKeyCache, UserBalanceCache};
 use crate::errors::Web3ProxyResult;
+use crate::globals::global_db_conn;
 use crate::stats::RpcQueryStats;
 use derive_more::From;
 use futures::stream;
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use influxdb2::api::write::TimestampPrecision;
 use migration::sea_orm::prelude::Decimal;
-use migration::sea_orm::DatabaseConnection;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use tokio::sync::{broadcast, mpsc, oneshot};
 use tokio::time::{interval, sleep};
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ pub struct StatBuffer {
     accounting_db_buffer: HashMap<RpcQueryKey, BufferedRpcQueryStats>,
     billing_period_seconds: i64,
     chain_id: u64,
-    db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
     db_save_interval_seconds: u32,
     global_timeseries_buffer: HashMap<RpcQueryKey, BufferedRpcQueryStats>,
     influxdb_bucket: Option<String>,
@@ -64,7 +63,6 @@ impl StatBuffer {
     pub fn try_spawn(
         billing_period_seconds: i64,
         chain_id: u64,
-        db_conn: Option<DatabaseConnection>,
         db_save_interval_seconds: u32,
         influxdb_bucket: Option<String>,
         mut influxdb_client: Option<influxdb2::Client>,
@@ -79,10 +77,6 @@ impl StatBuffer {
             influxdb_client = None;
         }
 
-        if db_conn.is_none() && influxdb_client.is_none() {
-            return Ok(None);
-        }
-
         let (stat_sender, stat_receiver) = mpsc::unbounded_channel();
 
         let timestamp_precision = TimestampPrecision::Seconds;
@@ -91,7 +85,6 @@ impl StatBuffer {
             accounting_db_buffer: Default::default(),
             billing_period_seconds,
             chain_id,
-            db_conn,
             db_save_interval_seconds,
             global_timeseries_buffer: Default::default(),
             influxdb_bucket,
@@ -142,51 +135,50 @@ impl StatBuffer {
                             let mut approximate_balance_remaining = 0.into();
 
                             // TODO: re-enable this once I know its not the cause of Polygon W3P crashing all the time
-                            if false {
-                                if let Some(db_conn) = self.db_conn.as_ref() {
-                                    let user_id = stat.authorization.checks.user_id;
+                            // TODO: we want to do this even if the db is down. we need to buffer if there is an outage!
+                            if let Ok(db_conn) = global_db_conn().await {
+                                let user_id = stat.authorization.checks.user_id;
 
-                                    // update the user's balance
-                                    if user_id != 0 {
-                                        // update the user's cached balance
-                                        let mut user_balance = stat.authorization.checks.latest_balance.write().await;
+                                // update the user's balance
+                                if user_id != 0 {
+                                    // update the user's cached balance
+                                    let mut user_balance = stat.authorization.checks.latest_balance.write().await;
 
-                                        // TODO: move this to a helper function
-                                        user_balance.total_frontend_requests += 1;
-                                        user_balance.total_spent += stat.compute_unit_cost;
+                                    // TODO: move this to a helper function
+                                    user_balance.total_frontend_requests += 1;
+                                    user_balance.total_spent += stat.compute_unit_cost;
 
-                                        if !stat.backend_rpcs_used.is_empty() {
-                                            user_balance.total_cache_misses += 1;
-                                        }
-
-                                        // if paid_credits_used is true, then they were premium at the start of the request
-                                        if stat.authorization.checks.paid_credits_used {
-                                            // TODO: this lets them get a negative remaining balance. we should clear if close to 0
-                                            user_balance.total_spent_paid_credits += stat.compute_unit_cost;
-
-                                            // check if they still have premium
-                                            if user_balance.active_premium() {
-                                                // TODO: referall credits here? i think in the save_db section still makes sense for those
-                                            } else if let Err(err) = self.user_balance_cache.invalidate(&user_balance.user_id, db_conn, &self.rpc_secret_key_cache).await {
-                                                // was premium, but isn't anymore due to paying for this query. clear the cache
-                                                // TODO: stop at <$0.000001 instead of negative?
-                                                warn!(?err, "unable to clear caches");
-                                            }
-                                        } else if user_balance.active_premium() {
-                                            // paid credits were not used, but now we have active premium. invalidate the caches
-                                            // TODO: this seems unliekly. should we warn if this happens so we can investigate?
-                                            if let Err(err) = self.user_balance_cache.invalidate(&user_balance.user_id, db_conn, &self.rpc_secret_key_cache).await {
-                                                // was premium, but isn't anymore due to paying for this query. clear the cache
-                                                // TODO: stop at <$0.000001 instead of negative?
-                                                warn!(?err, "unable to clear caches");
-                                            }
-                                        }
-
-                                        approximate_balance_remaining = user_balance.remaining();
+                                    if !stat.backend_rpcs_used.is_empty() {
+                                        user_balance.total_cache_misses += 1;
                                     }
 
-                                    // self.accounting_db_buffer.entry(stat.accounting_key(self.billing_period_seconds)).or_default().add(stat.clone(), approximate_balance_remaining).await;
+                                    // if paid_credits_used is true, then they were premium at the start of the request
+                                    if stat.authorization.checks.paid_credits_used {
+                                        // TODO: this lets them get a negative remaining balance. we should clear if close to 0
+                                        user_balance.total_spent_paid_credits += stat.compute_unit_cost;
+
+                                        // check if they still have premium
+                                        if user_balance.active_premium() {
+                                            // TODO: referall credits here? i think in the save_db section still makes sense for those
+                                        } else if let Err(err) = self.user_balance_cache.invalidate(&user_balance.user_id, &db_conn, &self.rpc_secret_key_cache).await {
+                                            // was premium, but isn't anymore due to paying for this query. clear the cache
+                                            // TODO: stop at <$0.000001 instead of negative?
+                                            warn!(?err, "unable to clear caches");
+                                        }
+                                    } else if user_balance.active_premium() {
+                                        // paid credits were not used, but now we have active premium. invalidate the caches
+                                        // TODO: this seems unliekly. should we warn if this happens so we can investigate?
+                                        if let Err(err) = self.user_balance_cache.invalidate(&user_balance.user_id, &db_conn, &self.rpc_secret_key_cache).await {
+                                            // was premium, but isn't anymore due to paying for this query. clear the cache
+                                            // TODO: stop at <$0.000001 instead of negative?
+                                            warn!(?err, "unable to clear caches");
+                                        }
+                                    }
+
+                                    approximate_balance_remaining = user_balance.remaining();
                                 }
+
+                                self.accounting_db_buffer.entry(stat.accounting_key(self.billing_period_seconds)).or_default().add(stat.clone(), approximate_balance_remaining).await;
                             }
 
                             if self.influxdb_client.is_some() {
@@ -259,8 +251,8 @@ impl StatBuffer {
 
         // TODO: wait on all websockets to close
         // TODO: wait on all pending external requests to finish
-        info!("waiting 10 seconds for remaining stats to arrive");
-        sleep(Duration::from_secs(10)).await;
+        info!("waiting 5 seconds for remaining stats to arrive");
+        sleep(Duration::from_secs(5)).await;
 
         // loop {
         //     // nope. this won't ever be true because we keep making stats for internal requests
@@ -289,7 +281,7 @@ impl StatBuffer {
     async fn save_relational_stats(&mut self) -> usize {
         let mut count = 0;
 
-        if let Some(db_conn) = self.db_conn.as_ref() {
+        if let Ok(db_conn) = global_db_conn().await {
             count = self.accounting_db_buffer.len();
             for (key, stat) in self.accounting_db_buffer.drain() {
                 // TODO: batch saves
@@ -297,7 +289,7 @@ impl StatBuffer {
                 if let Err(err) = stat
                     .save_db(
                         self.chain_id,
-                        db_conn,
+                        &db_conn,
                         key,
                         &self.user_balance_cache,
                         &self.rpc_secret_key_cache,
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/migrate_stats_to_v2.rs b/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/migrate_stats_to_v2.rs
index 976f052f..016c04dd 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/migrate_stats_to_v2.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/migrate_stats_to_v2.rs
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ impl MigrateStatsToV2SubCommand {
         let emitter_spawn = StatBuffer::try_spawn(
             BILLING_PERIOD_SECONDS,
             top_config.app.chain_id,
-            Some(db_conn.clone()),
             30,
             top_config.app.influxdb_bucket.clone(),
             influxdb_client.clone(),
@@ -117,8 +116,8 @@ impl MigrateStatsToV2SubCommand {
             // (2) Create request metadata objects to match the old data
             // Iterate through all old rows, and put them into the above objects.
             for x in old_records.iter() {
-                let mut authorization = Authorization::internal(None)
-                    .context("failed creating internal authorization")?;
+                let mut authorization =
+                    Authorization::internal().context("failed creating internal authorization")?;
 
                 match x.rpc_key_id {
                     Some(rpc_key_id) => {
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/proxyd.rs b/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/proxyd.rs
index aabb6088..f61b4e73 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/proxyd.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/proxyd.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use crate::app::{flatten_handle, flatten_handles, Web3ProxyApp};
 use crate::compute_units::default_usd_per_cu;
 use crate::config::TopConfig;
+use crate::globals::global_db_conn;
 use crate::stats::FlushedStats;
 use crate::{frontend, prometheus};
 use argh::FromArgs;
@@ -148,6 +149,10 @@ impl ProxydSubCommand {
             prometheus_shutdown_receiver,
         ));
 
+        if spawned_app.app.config.db_url.is_some() {
+            // give 30 seconds for the db to connect. if it does not connect, it will keep retrying
+        }
+
         info!("waiting for head block");
         let max_wait_until = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(35);
         loop {
@@ -286,7 +291,8 @@ impl ProxydSubCommand {
             }
         }
 
-        if let Ok(db_conn) = spawned_app.app.db_conn().cloned() {
+        // TODO: make sure this happens even if we exit with an error
+        if let Ok(db_conn) = global_db_conn().await {
             /*
             From the sqlx docs:
 
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/transfer_key.rs b/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/transfer_key.rs
index f4fa4862..9b4b9c72 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/transfer_key.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/sub_commands/transfer_key.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ impl TransferKeySubCommand {
 
             uk.user_id = sea_orm::Set(new_u.id);
 
-            let _uk = uk.save(db_conn).await?;
+            uk.save(db_conn).await?;
 
             info!("changed the key's owner");
         }
diff --git a/web3_proxy/tests/common/app.rs b/web3_proxy/tests/common/app.rs
index 6141ba2f..13e10027 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/tests/common/app.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/tests/common/app.rs
@@ -4,20 +4,20 @@ use ethers::{
     types::Address,
 };
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
-use parking_lot::Mutex;
 use serde_json::json;
 use std::{
     env,
     str::FromStr,
     sync::atomic::{AtomicU16, Ordering},
+    thread,
 };
 use std::{sync::Arc, time::Duration};
 use tokio::{
+    runtime::Builder,
     sync::{
         broadcast::{self, error::SendError},
         mpsc, oneshot,
     },
-    task::JoinHandle,
     time::{sleep, Instant},
 };
 use tracing::info;
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ use web3_proxy::{
 };
 
 pub struct TestApp {
-    /// spawn handle for the proxy.
-    pub proxy_handle: Mutex<Option<JoinHandle<anyhow::Result<()>>>>,
+    /// **THREAD** (not async) handle for the proxy.
+    /// In an Option so we can take it and not break the `impl Drop`
+    pub proxy_handle: Option<thread::JoinHandle<anyhow::Result<()>>>,
 
     /// connection to the proxy that is connected to anil.
     pub proxy_provider: Provider<Http>,
@@ -96,16 +97,29 @@ impl TestApp {
         // spawn the app
         // TODO: spawn in a thread so we can run from non-async tests and so the Drop impl can wait for it to stop
         let handle = {
-            tokio::spawn(ProxydSubCommand::_main(
-                top_config,
-                None,
-                frontend_port_arc.clone(),
-                prometheus_port_arc,
-                num_workers,
-                shutdown_sender.clone(),
-                flush_stat_buffer_sender.clone(),
-                flush_stat_buffer_receiver,
-            ))
+            let frontend_port_arc = frontend_port_arc.clone();
+            let prometheus_port_arc = prometheus_port_arc.clone();
+            let flush_stat_buffer_sender = flush_stat_buffer_sender.clone();
+            let shutdown_sender = shutdown_sender.clone();
+
+            thread::spawn(move || {
+                let runtime = Builder::new_multi_thread()
+                    .enable_all()
+                    .worker_threads(2)
+                    .build()
+                    .unwrap();
+
+                runtime.block_on(ProxydSubCommand::_main(
+                    top_config,
+                    None,
+                    frontend_port_arc,
+                    prometheus_port_arc,
+                    num_workers,
+                    shutdown_sender,
+                    flush_stat_buffer_sender,
+                    flush_stat_buffer_receiver,
+                ))
+            })
         };
 
         let mut frontend_port = frontend_port_arc.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
@@ -125,7 +139,7 @@ impl TestApp {
         let proxy_provider = Provider::<Http>::try_from(proxy_endpoint).unwrap();
 
         Self {
-            proxy_handle: Mutex::new(Some(handle)),
+            proxy_handle: Some(handle),
             proxy_provider,
             flush_stat_buffer_sender,
             shutdown_sender,
@@ -148,15 +162,11 @@ impl TestApp {
     }
 
     #[allow(unused)]
-    pub async fn wait(&self) {
+    pub fn wait_for_stop(mut self) {
         let _ = self.stop();
 
-        // TODO: lock+take feels weird, but it works
-        let handle = self.proxy_handle.lock().take();
-
-        if let Some(handle) = handle {
-            info!("waiting for the app to stop...");
-            handle.await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        if let Some(handle) = self.proxy_handle.take() {
+            handle.join().unwrap();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_admin.rs b/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_admin.rs
index 48bfebd0..3c553e21 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_admin.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_admin.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use crate::TestApp;
 use ethers::prelude::{LocalWallet, Signer};
 use ethers::types::Signature;
+use http::StatusCode;
 use tracing::info;
 use web3_proxy::frontend::users::authentication::{LoginPostResponse, PostLogin};
 use web3_proxy::sub_commands::ChangeAdminStatusSubCommand;
@@ -80,17 +81,18 @@ pub async fn create_user_as_admin(
         admin_wallet.address()
     );
     let admin_login_message = r.get(admin_login_get_url).send().await.unwrap();
-    let admin_login_message = admin_login_message.text().await.unwrap();
+
+    assert_eq!(admin_login_message.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+
+    let admin_login_text = admin_login_message.text().await.unwrap();
+    info!(?admin_login_text);
 
     // Sign the message and POST it to login as admin
-    let admin_signed: Signature = admin_wallet
-        .sign_message(&admin_login_message)
-        .await
-        .unwrap();
+    let admin_signed: Signature = admin_wallet.sign_message(&admin_login_text).await.unwrap();
     info!(?admin_signed);
 
     let admin_post_login_data = PostLogin {
-        msg: admin_login_message,
+        msg: admin_login_text,
         sig: admin_signed.to_string(),
         referral_code: None,
     };
diff --git a/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_user.rs b/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_user.rs
index a5695a55..f5a47e53 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_user.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/tests/common/create_user.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ use crate::TestApp;
 use entities::{user, user_tier};
 use ethers::prelude::{LocalWallet, Signer};
 use ethers::types::Signature;
+use http::StatusCode;
 use migration::sea_orm::{
     self, ActiveModelTrait, ColumnTrait, DatabaseConnection, EntityTrait, IntoActiveModel,
     QueryFilter,
 };
-use tracing::info;
+use tracing::{info, trace};
 use web3_proxy::errors::Web3ProxyResult;
 use web3_proxy::frontend::users::authentication::{LoginPostResponse, PostLogin};
 
@@ -38,15 +39,20 @@ pub async fn create_user(
     };
     info!(?user_post_login_data);
 
-    let mut user_login_response = r
+    let user_login_response = r
         .post(&login_post_url)
         .json(&user_post_login_data)
         .send()
         .await
-        .unwrap()
-        .json::<LoginPostResponse>()
-        .await
         .unwrap();
+    trace!(?user_login_response);
+
+    assert_eq!(user_login_response.status(), StatusCode::OK);
+
+    let user_login_text = user_login_response.text().await.unwrap();
+    trace!("user_login_text: {:#}", user_login_text);
+
+    let user_login_response: LoginPostResponse = serde_json::from_str(&user_login_text).unwrap();
     info!(?user_login_response);
 
     user_login_response
diff --git a/web3_proxy/tests/common/mysql.rs b/web3_proxy/tests/common/mysql.rs
index e4989693..13fe144d 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/tests/common/mysql.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/tests/common/mysql.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use tokio::{
     time::{sleep, Instant},
 };
 use tracing::{info, trace, warn};
-use web3_proxy::relational_db::get_migrated_db;
+use web3_proxy::relational_db::{connect_db, get_migrated_db};
 
 /// on drop, the mysql docker container will be shut down
 pub struct TestMysql {
@@ -166,9 +166,7 @@ impl TestMysql {
     }
 
     pub async fn conn(&self) -> DatabaseConnection {
-        get_migrated_db(self.url.clone().unwrap(), 1, 5)
-            .await
-            .unwrap()
+        connect_db(self.url.clone().unwrap(), 1, 5).await.unwrap()
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/web3_proxy/tests/test_admins.rs b/web3_proxy/tests/test_admins.rs
index f23dcc30..c15869f0 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/tests/test_admins.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/tests/test_admins.rs
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ async fn test_admin_grant_credits() {
     let user_balance = user_get_balance(&x, &r, &user_login_response).await;
     assert_eq!(user_balance.remaining(), Decimal::from(100));
 
-    x.wait().await;
+    x.wait_for_stop();
 }
 
 // #[cfg_attr(not(feature = "tests-needing-docker"), ignore)]
diff --git a/web3_proxy/tests/test_proxy.rs b/web3_proxy/tests/test_proxy.rs
index 4013292b..3fc76a17 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/tests/test_proxy.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/tests/test_proxy.rs
@@ -97,8 +97,10 @@ async fn it_starts_and_stops() {
     assert_eq!(anvil_result, proxy_result.unwrap());
 
     // this won't do anything since stats aren't tracked when there isn't a db
-    x.flush_stats().await.unwrap_err();
+    let flushed = x.flush_stats().await.unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(flushed.relational, 0);
+    assert_eq!(flushed.timeseries, 0);
 
     // most tests won't need to wait, but we should wait here to be sure all the shutdown logic works properly
-    x.wait().await;
+    x.wait_for_stop();
 }