diff --git a/db/connection.go b/db/connection.go
index d1415c5..1057dc9 100644
--- a/db/connection.go
+++ b/db/connection.go
@@ -1,14 +1,117 @@
 package db
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	_ "github.com/mattn/go-sqlite3"
 )
 
+// Wraps the database handle, providing a mutex to safely manage transactions
+type SafeConn struct {
+	db  *sql.DB
+	mux sync.RWMutex
+}
+
+// Extends sql.Tx for use with SafeConn
+type SafeTX struct {
+	tx *sql.Tx
+	sc *SafeConn
+}
+
+// Starts a new transaction, waiting up to 10 seconds if the database is locked
+func (conn *SafeConn) Begin(ctx context.Context) (*SafeTX, error) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	lockAcquired := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		conn.mux.RLock()
+		close(lockAcquired)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-lockAcquired:
+		tx, err := conn.db.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			conn.mux.RUnlock()
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return &SafeTX{tx: tx, sc: conn}, nil
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		return nil, errors.New("Transaction time out due to database lock")
+	}
+}
+
+// Query the database inside the transaction
+func (stx *SafeTX) Query(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	query string,
+	args ...interface{},
+) (*sql.Rows, error) {
+	if stx.tx == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("Cannot query without a transaction")
+	}
+	return stx.tx.QueryContext(ctx, query, args...)
+}
+
+// Exec a statement on the database inside the transaction
+func (stx *SafeTX) Exec(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	query string,
+	args ...interface{},
+) (sql.Result, error) {
+	if stx.tx == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("Cannot exec without a transaction")
+	}
+	return stx.tx.ExecContext(ctx, query, args...)
+}
+
+// Commit commits the transaction and releases the lock.
+func (stx *SafeTX) Commit() error {
+	if stx.tx == nil {
+		return errors.New("Cannot commit without a transaction")
+	}
+	err := stx.tx.Commit()
+	stx.tx = nil
+
+	stx.releaseLock()
+	return err
+}
+
+// Rollback aborts the transaction.
+func (stx *SafeTX) Rollback() error {
+	if stx.tx == nil {
+		return errors.New("Cannot rollback without a transaction")
+	}
+	err := stx.tx.Rollback()
+	stx.tx = nil
+	stx.releaseLock()
+	return err
+}
+
+// Release the read lock for the transaction
+func (stx *SafeTX) releaseLock() {
+	if stx.sc != nil {
+		stx.sc.mux.RUnlock()
+	}
+}
+
+// Pause blocks new transactions for a backup.
+func (conn *SafeConn) Pause() {
+	conn.mux.Lock() // Blocks all new transactions
+}
+
+// Resume allows transactions to proceed.
+func (conn *SafeConn) Resume() {
+	conn.mux.Unlock()
+}
+
 // Returns a database connection handle for the Turso DB
 func ConnectToDatabase(dbName string) (*sql.DB, error) {
 	file := fmt.Sprintf("file:%s.db", dbName)