@@ -25,11 +25,13 @@
 (define (tasks:open-db)
   (let* ((linktree     (configf:lookup *configdat* "setup" "linktree"))
 	 (dbpath       (conc linktree "/.db/monitor.db"))
 	 (exists       (file-exists? dbpath))
 	 (write-access (file-write-access? dbpath))
-	 (mdb          (sqlite3:open-database dbpath)) ;; (never-give-up-open-db dbpath))
+	 (mdb          (if (file-write-access? *toppath*)
+			   (sqlite3:open-database dbpath)
+			   (sqlite3:open-database ":memory:"))) ;; (never-give-up-open-db dbpath))
 	 (handler      (make-busy-timeout 36000)))
     (if (and exists
 	     (not write-access))
 	(set! *db-write-access* write-access)) ;; only unset so other db's also can use this control
     (sqlite3:set-busy-handler! mdb handler)