diff --git a/db/connection.go b/db/connection.go
index 17311d3..432fe1e 100644
--- a/db/connection.go
+++ b/db/connection.go
@@ -4,17 +4,17 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"fmt"
-	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
 	_ "modernc.org/sqlite"
 )
 
-// Wraps the database handle, providing a mutex to safely manage transactions
 type SafeConn struct {
-	db  *sql.DB
-	mux sync.RWMutex
+	db               *sql.DB
+	readLockCount    int32
+	globalLockStatus int32
 }
 
 func MakeSafe(db *sql.DB) *SafeConn {
@@ -27,24 +27,63 @@ type SafeTX struct {
 	sc *SafeConn
 }
 
+func (conn *SafeConn) acquireGlobalLock() bool {
+	if atomic.LoadInt32(&conn.readLockCount) > 0 || atomic.LoadInt32(&conn.globalLockStatus) == 1 {
+		return false
+	}
+	atomic.StoreInt32(&conn.globalLockStatus, 1)
+	fmt.Println("=====================GLOBAL LOCK ACQUIRED==================")
+	return true
+}
+
+func (conn *SafeConn) releaseGlobalLock() {
+	atomic.StoreInt32(&conn.globalLockStatus, 0)
+	fmt.Println("=====================GLOBAL LOCK RELEASED==================")
+}
+
+func (conn *SafeConn) acquireReadLock() bool {
+	if atomic.LoadInt32(&conn.globalLockStatus) == 1 {
+		return false
+	}
+	atomic.AddInt32(&conn.readLockCount, 1)
+	fmt.Println("=====================READ LOCK ACQUIRED==================")
+	return true
+}
+
+func (conn *SafeConn) releaseReadLock() {
+	atomic.AddInt32(&conn.readLockCount, -1)
+	fmt.Println("=====================READ LOCK RELEASED==================")
+}
+
 // Starts a new transaction based on the current context. Will cancel if
 // the context is closed/cancelled/done
 func (conn *SafeConn) Begin(ctx context.Context) (*SafeTX, error) {
 	lockAcquired := make(chan struct{})
+	lockCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+	defer cancel()
+
 	go func() {
-		conn.mux.RLock()
-		close(lockAcquired)
+		select {
+		case <-lockCtx.Done():
+			fmt.Println("=====================READ LOCK ABANDONED==================")
+			return
+		default:
+			if conn.acquireReadLock() {
+				close(lockAcquired) // Lock acquired
+			}
+		}
 	}()
 
 	select {
 	case <-lockAcquired:
 		tx, err := conn.db.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
 		if err != nil {
-			conn.mux.RUnlock()
+			conn.releaseReadLock()
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		return &SafeTX{tx: tx, sc: conn}, nil
 	case <-ctx.Done():
+		cancel()
 		return nil, errors.New("Transaction time out due to database lock")
 	}
 }
@@ -81,7 +120,7 @@ func (stx *SafeTX) Commit() error {
 	err := stx.tx.Commit()
 	stx.tx = nil
 
-	stx.releaseLock()
+	stx.sc.releaseReadLock()
 	return err
 }
 
@@ -92,31 +131,30 @@ func (stx *SafeTX) Rollback() error {
 	}
 	err := stx.tx.Rollback()
 	stx.tx = nil
-	stx.releaseLock()
+	stx.sc.releaseReadLock()
 	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
+	for !conn.acquireGlobalLock() {
+		// TODO: add a timeout?
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Global database lock acquired")
 }
 
 // Resume allows transactions to proceed.
 func (conn *SafeConn) Resume() {
-	conn.mux.Unlock()
+	conn.releaseGlobalLock()
+	fmt.Println("Global database lock released")
 }
 
 // Close the database connection
 func (conn *SafeConn) Close() error {
-	conn.mux.Lock()
-	defer conn.mux.Unlock()
+	fmt.Println("=====================DB LOCKING FOR SHUTDOWN==================")
+	conn.acquireGlobalLock()
+	defer conn.releaseGlobalLock()
+	fmt.Println("=====================DB LOCKED FOR SHUTDOWN==================")
 	return conn.db.Close()
 }
 
diff --git a/handlers/withtransaction.go b/handlers/withtransaction.go
index d81884f..db963fc 100644
--- a/handlers/withtransaction.go
+++ b/handlers/withtransaction.go
@@ -25,13 +25,12 @@ func WithTransaction(
 	),
 ) {
 	// Create a cancellable context from the request context
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(r.Context(), 10*time.Second)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(r.Context(), 2*time.Second)
 	defer cancel()
 
 	// Start the transaction
 	tx, err := conn.Begin(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
-		tx.Rollback()
 		logger.Warn().Err(err).Msg("Request failed to start a transaction")
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
 		page.Error(
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 84ed2fd..03406c6 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import (
 	"os/signal"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"projectreshoot/config"
@@ -43,6 +45,36 @@ func getStaticFiles() (http.FileSystem, error) {
 	}
 }
 
+var maint uint32 // atomic: 1 if in maintenance mode
+
+func handleMaintSignals(conn *db.SafeConn, srv *http.Server) {
+	ch := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	srv.RegisterOnShutdown(func() {
+		close(ch)
+	})
+	go func() {
+		for sig := range ch {
+			switch sig {
+			case syscall.SIGUSR1:
+				if atomic.LoadUint32(&maint) != 1 {
+					atomic.StoreUint32(&maint, 1)
+					fmt.Println("Signal received: Starting maintenance")
+					fmt.Println("Attempting to acquire database lock")
+					conn.Pause()
+				}
+			case syscall.SIGUSR2:
+				if atomic.LoadUint32(&maint) != 0 {
+					fmt.Println("Signal received: Maintenance over")
+					fmt.Println("Releasing database lock")
+					conn.Resume()
+					atomic.StoreUint32(&maint, 0)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	signal.Notify(ch, syscall.SIGUSR1, syscall.SIGUSR2)
+}
+
 // Initializes and runs the server
 func run(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, args map[string]string) error {
 	ctx, cancel := signal.NotifyContext(ctx, os.Interrupt)
@@ -103,6 +135,10 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, args map[string]string) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	// Setups a channel to listen for os.Signal
+	handleMaintSignals(conn, httpServer)
+
+	// Runs the http server
 	go func() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Listening on %s\n", httpServer.Addr)
 		if err := httpServer.ListenAndServe(); err != nil && err != http.ErrServerClosed {
@@ -110,6 +146,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, args map[string]string) error {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// Handles graceful shutdown
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 	wg.Add(1)
 	go func() {