@@ -1648,7 +1648,24 @@
 ;; (define (db:with-mutex-for-stmth proc)
 ;;   (mutex-lock! *mutex-stmth-call*)
 ;;   (let* ((res (proc)))
 ;;     (mutex-unlock! *mutex-stmth-call*)
 ;;     res))
+;;======================================================================
+;; L O C K E R S   A N D   B L O C K E R S 
+;;======================================================================
+
+;; block further accesses to databases. Call this before shutting db down
+(define (common:db-block-further-queries)
+  (mutex-lock! *db-access-mutex*)
+  (set! *db-access-allowed* #f)
+  (mutex-unlock! *db-access-mutex*))
+
+(define (common:db-access-allowed?)
+  (let ((val (begin
+	       (mutex-lock! *db-access-mutex*)
+	       *db-access-allowed*
+	       (mutex-unlock! *db-access-mutex*))))
+    val))
+
 
 )