diff --git a/api_db.php b/api_db.php
index 515554fb..24624a1e 100644
--- a/api_db.php
+++ b/api_db.php
@@ -17,24 +17,33 @@ $data = array();
 // Needs package php5-sqlite, e.g.
 //    sudo apt-get install php5-sqlite
 
+class FTLDB extends SQLite3
+{
+	function __construct()
+	{
+		$this->open("/etc/pihole/pihole-FTL.db", SQLITE3_OPEN_READONLY);
+	}
+}
+
 function SQLite3_connect($trytoreconnect)
 {
 	try {
 		// connect to database
-		$db = new SQLite3('/etc/pihole/pihole-FTL.db');
+		return new FTLDB;
 	}
 	catch (Exception $exception) {
 		// sqlite3 throws an exception when it is unable to connect, try to reconnect after 3 seconds
 		if($trytoreconnect)
 		{
 			sleep(3);
-			SQLite3_connect(false);
+			$db = SQLite3_connect(false);
 		}
 	}
 }
-SQLite3_connect(true);
 
-if(empty($db))
+$db = SQLite3_connect(true);
+
+if(!$db)
 {
 	die("Error connecting to database");
 }