diff --git a/README b/README
index 926d089..cacc015 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ This does not imply the goal is to be what you want.
 -- build
 
 It should be sufficient to type make after unpacking a release.
-You'll need a go compiler version 1.13 or later. And libsqlite3.
+You'll need a go compiler version 1.16 or later. And libsqlite3.
 
 Even on a fast machine, building from source can take several seconds.
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Then run honk.
 
 -- upgrade
 
-cp honk.db backup.db
+old-honk backup `date +backup-%F`
 ./honk upgrade
 ./honk
 
diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index c1374c3..d2f10c6 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"crypto/sha512"
 	"database/sql"
-	"encoding/json"
 	_ "embed"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"html/template"
 	"sort"
diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 19b8d99..b9601fe 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ changelog
 
 === next
 
++ Switch database to WAL mode.
+
 - go version 1.16 required.
 
 + Specify banner: image in profile.
diff --git a/upgradedb.go b/upgradedb.go
index 8853f0d..533ff9c 100644
--- a/upgradedb.go
+++ b/upgradedb.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-var myVersion = 40
+var myVersion = 41
 
 type dbexecer interface {
 	Exec(query string, args ...interface{}) (sql.Result, error)
@@ -200,6 +200,12 @@ func upgradedb() {
 		doordie(db, "update config set value = 40 where key = 'dbversion'")
 		fallthrough
 	case 40:
+		doordie(db, "PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
+		blobdb := openblobdb()
+		doordie(blobdb, "PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
+		doordie(db, "update config set value = 41 where key = 'dbversion'")
+		fallthrough
+	case 41:
 
 	default:
 		elog.Fatalf("can't upgrade unknown version %d", dbversion)
diff --git a/util.go b/util.go
index 85647d9..fe804a3 100644
--- a/util.go
+++ b/util.go
@@ -100,6 +100,11 @@ func initdb() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}()
 
+	_, err = db.Exec("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
+	if err != nil {
+		elog.Print(err)
+		return
+	}
 	for _, line := range strings.Split(sqlSchema, ";") {
 		_, err = db.Exec(line)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -176,6 +181,11 @@ func initblobdb() {
 		elog.Print(err)
 		return
 	}
+	_, err = blobdb.Exec("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL")
+	if err != nil {
+		elog.Print(err)
+		return
+	}
 	_, err = blobdb.Exec("create table filedata (xid text, media text, hash text, content blob)")
 	if err != nil {
 		elog.Print(err)