diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5e18410..147d068 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Next version
 
+- add database class for easier sqlite3 access
+
 ## 1.1.0 (2019-04-14)
 
 - change how config files are passed along
diff --git a/yaboli/__init__.py b/yaboli/__init__.py
index a9df9c2..b138c88 100644
--- a/yaboli/__init__.py
+++ b/yaboli/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from .bot import *
 from .client import *
 from .command import *
 from .connection import *
+from .database import *
 from .events import *
 from .exceptions import *
 from .message import *
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ __all__ += bot.__all__
 __all__ += client.__all__
 __all__ += command.__all__
 __all__ += connection.__all__
+__all__ += database.__all__
 __all__ += events.__all__
 __all__ += exceptions.__all__
 __all__ += message.__all__
diff --git a/yaboli/database.py b/yaboli/database.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84af548
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yaboli/database.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import sqlite3
+from typing import Any, Awaitable, Callable, TypeVar
+
+from .util import asyncify
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+__all__ = ["Database", "operation"]
+
+T = TypeVar('T')
+
+def operation(func: Callable[..., T]) -> Callable[..., Awaitable[T]]:
+    async def wrapper(self: Any, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> T:
+        async with self as db:
+            while True:
+                try:
+                    return await asyncify(func, self, db, *args, **kwargs)
+                except sqlite3.OperationalError as e:
+                    logger.warn(f"Operational error encountered: {e}")
+                    await asyncio.sleep(5)
+    return wrapper
+
+class Database:
+    def __init__(self, database: str) -> None:
+        self._connection = sqlite3.connect(database, check_same_thread=False)
+        self._lock = asyncio.Lock()
+
+        self.initialize(self._connection)
+
+    def initialize(self, db: Any) -> None:
+        pass
+
+    async def __aenter__(self) -> Any:
+        await self._lock.__aenter__()
+        return self._connection
+
+    async def __aexit__(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return await self._lock.__aexit__(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/yaboli/util.py b/yaboli/util.py
index 6439799..e8395d9 100644
--- a/yaboli/util.py
+++ b/yaboli/util.py
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
+import asyncio
 import datetime
+import functools
 import re
+from typing import Any, Callable
 
-__all__ = ["mention", "atmention", "normalize", "similar", "plural",
-        "format_time", "format_delta"]
+__all__ = ["asyncify", "mention", "atmention", "normalize", "similar",
+        "plural", "format_time", "format_delta"]
+
+async def asyncify(func: Callable[..., Any], *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    func_with_args = functools.partial(func, *args, **kwargs)
+    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
+    return await loop.run_in_executor(None, func_with_args)
 
 # Name/nick related functions