diff --git a/src/dbs-sqlite.c b/src/dbs-sqlite.c
index 1af33b5d..1f80498e 100644
--- a/src/dbs-sqlite.c
+++ b/src/dbs-sqlite.c
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ int db_sqlite_free_table(char **resarray) {
     db_sqlite_lock();
     sqlite_free_table(resarray);
     db_sqlite_unlock();
+    return 0;
 }
 
 
@@ -174,7 +175,7 @@ int db_sqlite_open(char *parameters) {
     snprintf(db_path,sizeof(db_path),"%s/songs.db",parameters);
     
     db_sqlite_lock();
-    db_sqlite_songs=sqlite_open(db_path,0,&perr);
+    db_sqlite_songs=sqlite_open(db_path,0666,&perr);
     if(!db_sqlite_songs)
 	DPRINTF(E_FATAL,L_DB,"db_sqlite_open: %s (%s)\n",perr,db_path);
 
@@ -727,7 +728,7 @@ int db_sqlite_enum_fetch(DBQUERYINFO *pinfo, unsigned char **pdmap) {
     db_sqlite_unlock();
 
     DPRINTF(E_FATAL,L_DB,"sqlite_step: %s\n",perr);
-    return NULL;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 3de8b156..01cee9ae 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -452,11 +452,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	daemon_start();
     }
 
-    /* DWB: shouldn't this be done after dropping privs? */
-    if(db_open(config.dbdir))
-	DPRINTF(E_FATAL,L_MAIN|L_DB,"Error in db_open: %s\n",strerror(errno));
-
-
     // Drop privs here
     if(drop_privs(config.runas)) {
 	DPRINTF(E_FATAL,L_MAIN,"Error in drop_privs: %s\n",strerror(errno));
@@ -478,6 +473,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	fprintf(pid_fp,"%d\n",config.pid);
 	fclose(pid_fp);
     }
+
+    /* this will require that the db be readable by the runas user */
+    if(db_open(config.dbdir))
+	DPRINTF(E_FATAL,L_MAIN|L_DB,"Error in db_open: %s\n",strerror(errno));
+
     /* Initialize the database before starting */
     DPRINTF(E_LOG,L_MAIN|L_DB,"Initializing database\n");
     if(db_init(reload)) {