diff --git a/alembic/env.py b/alembic/env.py
index 23056ae..b3ea427 100644
--- a/alembic/env.py
+++ b/alembic/env.py
@@ -91,13 +91,18 @@ async def run_async_migrations() -> None:
     await connectable.dispose()
 
 
-def run_migrations_online_async() -> None:
+def run_migrations_online() -> None:
     """Run migrations in 'online' mode."""
-
-    asyncio.run(run_async_migrations())
+    # Support having a (sync) connection passed in from another script.
+    if (conn := config.attributes.get("connection")) and isinstance(
+        conn, sa.Connection
+    ):
+        do_run_migrations(conn)
+    else:
+        asyncio.run(run_async_migrations())
 
 
 if context.is_offline_mode():
     run_migrations_offline()
 else:
-    run_migrations_online_async()
+    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/alembic/versions/1716077466-8b06e4916840_remove_db_patches_table.py b/alembic/versions/1716077466-8b06e4916840_remove_db_patches_table.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..840cb33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/1716077466-8b06e4916840_remove_db_patches_table.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+"""remove db_patches table
+
+We replace our old patch process with Alembic's.
+
+Revision ID: 8b06e4916840
+Revises: f17c7ca9afa4
+Create Date: 2024-05-19 00:11:06.730421+00:00
+
+"""
+
+from typing import Sequence
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+from alembic import op
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision: str = "8b06e4916840"
+down_revision: str | None = "f17c7ca9afa4"
+branch_labels: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
+depends_on: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_table("db_patches")
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.create_table(
+        "db_patches",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.INTEGER(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("current", sa.VARCHAR(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
+    )
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/tests/test_db.py b/tests/test_db.py
index 981e65b..c22359d 100644
--- a/tests/test_db.py
+++ b/tests/test_db.py
@@ -20,14 +20,6 @@ def a_movie(**kwds) -> models.Movie:
     return models.Movie(**args)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_current_patch_level(conn: db.Connection):
-    patch_level = "some-patch-level"
-    assert patch_level != await db.current_patch_level(conn)
-    await db.set_current_patch_level(conn, patch_level)
-    assert patch_level == await db.current_patch_level(conn)
-
-
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_get(conn: db.Connection):
     m1 = a_movie()
diff --git a/unwind/db.py b/unwind/db.py
index b609c59..38b0107 100644
--- a/unwind/db.py
+++ b/unwind/db.py
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, AsyncGenerator, Iterable, Literal, Sequence, Type, TypeVar
 
 import sqlalchemy as sa
-from sqlalchemy.dialects.sqlite import insert
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncConnection, AsyncEngine, create_async_engine
 
+import alembic.command
+import alembic.config
+import alembic.migration
+
 from . import config
 from .models import (
     Model,
@@ -15,7 +18,6 @@ from .models import (
     Rating,
     User,
     asplain,
-    db_patches,
     fromplain,
     metadata,
     movies,
@@ -33,6 +35,25 @@ _engine: AsyncEngine | None = None
 
 type Connection = AsyncConnection
 
+_project_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+_alembic_ini = _project_dir / "alembic.ini"
+
+
+def _init(conn: sa.Connection) -> None:
+    # See https://alembic.sqlalchemy.org/en/latest/cookbook.html#building-an-up-to-date-database-from-scratch
+    context = alembic.migration.MigrationContext.configure(conn)
+    heads = context.get_current_heads()
+
+    is_empty_db = not heads  # We consider a DB empty if Alembic hasn't touched it yet.
+    if is_empty_db:
+        log.info("⚡️ Initializing empty database.")
+        metadata.create_all(conn)
+
+        # We pass our existing connection to Alembic's env.py, to avoid running another asyncio loop there.
+        alembic_cfg = alembic.config.Config(_alembic_ini)
+        alembic_cfg.attributes["connection"] = conn
+        alembic.command.stamp(alembic_cfg, "head")
+
 
 async def open_connection_pool() -> None:
     """Open the DB connection pool.
@@ -41,11 +62,7 @@ async def open_connection_pool() -> None:
     """
     async with transaction() as conn:
         await conn.execute(sa.text("PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL"))
-
-        await conn.run_sync(metadata.create_all, tables=[db_patches])
-
-    async with new_connection() as conn:
-        await apply_db_patches(conn)
+        await conn.run_sync(_init)
 
 
 async def close_connection_pool() -> None:
@@ -65,65 +82,7 @@ async def close_connection_pool() -> None:
     await engine.dispose()
 
 
-async def current_patch_level(conn: Connection, /) -> str:
-    query = sa.select(db_patches.c.current)
-    current = await conn.scalar(query)
-    return current or ""
-
-
-async def set_current_patch_level(conn: Connection, /, current: str) -> None:
-    stmt = insert(db_patches).values(id=1, current=current)
-    stmt = stmt.on_conflict_do_update(set_={"current": stmt.excluded.current})
-    await conn.execute(stmt)
-
-
-db_patches_dir = Path(__file__).parent / "sql"
-
-
-async def apply_db_patches(conn: Connection, /) -> None:
-    """Apply all remaining patches to the database.
-
-    Beware that patches will be applied in lexicographical order,
-    i.e. "10" comes before "9".
-
-    The current patch state is recorded in the DB itself.
-
-    Please note that every SQL statement in a patch file MUST be terminated
-    using two consecutive semi-colons (;).
-    Failing to do so will result in an error.
-    """
-    applied_lvl = await current_patch_level(conn)
-
-    did_patch = False
-
-    for patchfile in sorted(db_patches_dir.glob("*.sql"), key=lambda p: p.stem):
-        patch_lvl = patchfile.stem
-        if patch_lvl <= applied_lvl:
-            continue
-
-        log.info("Applying patch: %s", patch_lvl)
-
-        sql = patchfile.read_text()
-        queries = sql.split(";;")
-        if len(queries) < 2:
-            log.error(
-                "Patch file is missing statement terminator (`;;'): %s", patchfile
-            )
-            raise RuntimeError("No statement found.")
-
-        async with transacted(conn):
-            for query in queries:
-                await conn.execute(sa.text(query))
-
-            await set_current_patch_level(conn, patch_lvl)
-
-            did_patch = True
-
-    if did_patch:
-        await _vacuum(conn)
-
-
-async def _vacuum(conn: Connection, /) -> None:
+async def vacuum(conn: Connection, /) -> None:
     """Vacuum the database.
 
     This function cannot be run on a connection with an open transaction.
diff --git a/unwind/models.py b/unwind/models.py
index a2ffffb..07b81fb 100644
--- a/unwind/models.py
+++ b/unwind/models.py
@@ -255,23 +255,6 @@ def utcnow() -> datetime:
     return datetime.now(timezone.utc)
 
 
-@mapper_registry.mapped
-@dataclass
-class DbPatch:
-    __table__: ClassVar[Table] = Table(
-        "db_patches",
-        metadata,
-        Column("id", Integer, primary_key=True),
-        Column("current", String),
-    )
-
-    id: int
-    current: str
-
-
-db_patches = DbPatch.__table__
-
-
 @mapper_registry.mapped
 @dataclass
 class Progress:
diff --git a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-0.sql b/unwind/sql/00000000-init-0.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index d0bd446..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-0.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;;
-
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
-    id TEXT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    name TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS movies (
-    id TEXT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    release_year NUMBER NOT NULL,
-    media_type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    score NUMBER NOT NULL,
-    runtime NUMBER,
-    genres TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS ratings (
-    id TEXT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
-    movie_id TEXT NOT NULL,
-    user_id TEXT NOT NULL,
-    score NUMBER NOT NULL,
-    rating_date TEXT NOT NULL,
-    favorite NUMBER,
-    finished NUMBER,
-    FOREIGN KEY(movie_id) REFERENCES movies(id),
-    FOREIGN KEY(user_id) REFERENCES users(id)
-);;
-
-CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS ratings_index ON ratings (
-    movie_id,
-    user_id
-);;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-1.sql b/unwind/sql/00000000-init-1.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 85d40a6..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-1.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
--- add original_title to movies table
-
--- see https://www.sqlite.org/lang_altertable.html#caution
--- 1. Create new table
--- 2. Copy data
--- 3. Drop old table
--- 4. Rename new into old 
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_movies (
-    id TEXT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    original_title TEXT,
-    release_year NUMBER NOT NULL,
-    media_type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    score NUMBER,
-    runtime NUMBER,
-    genres TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_movies
-SELECT
-    id,
-    title,
-    NULL,
-    release_year,
-    media_type,
-    imdb_id,
-    score,
-    runtime,
-    genres,
-    updated
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE movies;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_movies
-RENAME TO movies;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-2.sql b/unwind/sql/00000000-init-2.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 68fad70..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-2.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
--- only set original_title if it differs from title,
--- and normalize media_type with an extra table.
-
-CREATE TABLE mediatypes (
-    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    name TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO mediatypes (name)
-SELECT DISTINCT media_type
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_movies (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    original_title TEXT,
-    release_year INTEGER NOT NULL,
-    media_type_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    score INTEGER,
-    runtime INTEGER,
-    genres TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL,
-    FOREIGN KEY(media_type_id) REFERENCES mediatypes(id)
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_movies
-SELECT
-    id,
-    title,
-    (CASE WHEN original_title=title THEN NULL ELSE original_title END),
-    release_year,
-    (SELECT id FROM mediatypes WHERE name=media_type) AS media_type_id,
-    imdb_id,
-    score,
-    runtime,
-    genres,
-    updated
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE movies;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_movies
-RENAME TO movies;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-3.sql b/unwind/sql/00000000-init-3.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 98380c7..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-3.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
--- add convenient view for movies
-
-CREATE VIEW IF NOT EXISTS movies_view
-AS SELECT
-    movies.id,
-    movies.title,
-    movies.original_title,
-    movies.release_year,
-    mediatypes.name AS media_type,
-    movies.imdb_id,
-    movies.score,
-    movies.runtime,
-    movies.genres,
-    movies.updated
-FROM movies
-JOIN mediatypes ON mediatypes.id=movies.media_type_id;;
-
-CREATE TRIGGER IF NOT EXISTS insert_movies_view
-    INSTEAD OF INSERT
-    ON movies_view
-BEGIN
-    INSERT INTO movies (
-        id,
-        title,
-        original_title,
-        release_year,
-        media_type_id,
-        imdb_id,
-        score,
-        runtime,
-        genres,
-        updated
-    ) VALUES (
-        NEW.id,
-        NEW.title,
-        NEW.original_title,
-        NEW.release_year,
-        (SELECT id FROM mediatypes WHERE name=NEW.media_type),
-        NEW.imdb_id,
-        NEW.score,
-        NEW.runtime,
-        NEW.genres,
-        NEW.updated
-    );
-END;;
-
-CREATE TRIGGER IF NOT EXISTS update_movies_view
-    INSTEAD OF UPDATE OF media_type
-    ON movies_view
-BEGIN
-    UPDATE movies
-    SET media_type_id=(SELECT id FROM mediatypes WHERE name=NEW.media_type)
-    WHERE id=OLD.id;
-END;;
-
-CREATE TRIGGER IF NOT EXISTS delete_movies_view
-    INSTEAD OF DELETE
-    ON movies_view
-BEGIN
-    DELETE FROM movies
-    WHERE movies.id=OLD.id;
-END;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-4.sql b/unwind/sql/00000000-init-4.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 984ef37..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/00000000-init-4.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
--- denormalize movie media_type
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_movies (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    original_title TEXT,
-    release_year INTEGER NOT NULL,
-    media_type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    score INTEGER,
-    runtime INTEGER,
-    genres TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_movies
-SELECT
-    id,
-    title,
-    original_title,
-    release_year,
-    (SELECT name FROM mediatypes WHERE id=media_type_id) AS media_type,
-    imdb_id,
-    score,
-    runtime,
-    genres,
-    updated
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP VIEW movies_view;;
-DROP TABLE mediatypes;;
-
-DROP TABLE movies;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_movies
-RENAME TO movies;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/00000001-fix-db.sql.disabled b/unwind/sql/00000001-fix-db.sql.disabled
deleted file mode 100644
index e6376a8..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/00000001-fix-db.sql.disabled
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
--- see the commit of this file for details.
-;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210705-224139.sql b/unwind/sql/20210705-224139.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index e714b4e..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210705-224139.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
--- add groups table
-
-CREATE TABLE groups (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    name TEXT NOT NULL,
-    secret TEXT NOT NULL,
-    users TEXT NOT NULL -- JSON array
-);;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210711-172808--progress-table.sql b/unwind/sql/20210711-172808--progress-table.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ee6a5f..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210711-172808--progress-table.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
--- add progress table
-
-CREATE TABLE progress (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    state TEXT NOT NULL,
-    started TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210720-213416.sql b/unwind/sql/20210720-213416.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 286e094..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210720-213416.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
--- add IMDb vote count
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_movies (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    original_title TEXT,
-    release_year INTEGER NOT NULL,
-    media_type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    imdb_score INTEGER,
-    imdb_votes INTEGER,
-    runtime INTEGER,
-    genres TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_movies
-SELECT
-    id,
-    title,
-    original_title,
-    release_year,
-    media_type,
-    imdb_id,
-    score AS imdb_score,
-    NULL AS imdb_votes,
-    runtime,
-    genres,
-    updated
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE movies;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_movies
-RENAME TO movies;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210720-223416.sql b/unwind/sql/20210720-223416.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 95e1b78..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210720-223416.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
--- add IMDb vote count
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_progress (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    state TEXT NOT NULL,
-    started TEXT NOT NULL,
-    stopped TEXT
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_progress
-SELECT
-    id,
-    'import-imdb-movies' AS type,
-    state,
-    started,
-    NULL AS stopped
-FROM progress
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE progress;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_progress
-RENAME TO progress;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210721-213417.sql b/unwind/sql/20210721-213417.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 33e891a..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210721-213417.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
--- add creation timestamp to movies
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_movies (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    original_title TEXT,
-    release_year INTEGER NOT NULL,
-    media_type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    imdb_score INTEGER,
-    imdb_votes INTEGER,
-    runtime INTEGER,
-    genres TEXT NOT NULL,
-    created TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_movies
-SELECT
-    id,
-    title,
-    original_title,
-    release_year,
-    media_type,
-    imdb_id,
-    imdb_score,
-    imdb_votes,
-    runtime,
-    genres,
-    updated AS created,
-    updated
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE movies;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_movies
-RENAME TO movies;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210728-223416.sql b/unwind/sql/20210728-223416.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 1581060..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210728-223416.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
--- add IMDb vote count
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_progress (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    state TEXT NOT NULL,
-    started TEXT NOT NULL,
-    stopped TEXT
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_progress
-SELECT
-    id,
-    type,
-    '{"percent":' || state || '}' AS state,
-    started,
-    stopped
-FROM progress
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE progress;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_progress
-RENAME TO progress;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210801-201151--add-user-secret.sql b/unwind/sql/20210801-201151--add-user-secret.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 3294a56..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210801-201151--add-user-secret.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
--- add secret to users
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_users (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    name TEXT NOT NULL,
-    secret TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_users
-SELECT
-    id,
-    imdb_id,
-    name,
-    '' AS secret
-FROM users
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE users;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_users
-RENAME TO users;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20210802-212312--add-group-admins.sql b/unwind/sql/20210802-212312--add-group-admins.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 13f3105..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20210802-212312--add-group-admins.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
--- add group admins
-
---- remove secrets from groups
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_groups (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    name TEXT NOT NULL,
-    users TEXT NOT NULL -- JSON array
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_groups
-SELECT
-    id,
-    name,
-    users
-FROM groups
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE groups;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_groups
-RENAME TO groups;;
-
---- add group access to users
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_users (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    name TEXT NOT NULL,
-    secret TEXT NOT NULL,
-    groups TEXT NOT NULL -- JSON array
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_users
-SELECT
-    id,
-    imdb_id,
-    name,
-    secret,
-    '[]' AS groups
-FROM users
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE users;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_users
-RENAME TO users;;
diff --git a/unwind/sql/20240511-001949--remove-genres-notnull.sql b/unwind/sql/20240511-001949--remove-genres-notnull.sql
deleted file mode 100644
index 98a7c16..0000000
--- a/unwind/sql/20240511-001949--remove-genres-notnull.sql
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
--- remove NOTNULL constraint from movies.genres
-
-CREATE TABLE _migrate_movies (
-    id TEXT PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
-    title TEXT NOT NULL,
-    original_title TEXT,
-    release_year INTEGER NOT NULL,
-    media_type TEXT NOT NULL,
-    imdb_id TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
-    imdb_score INTEGER,
-    imdb_votes INTEGER,
-    runtime INTEGER,
-    genres TEXT,
-    created TEXT NOT NULL,
-    updated TEXT NOT NULL
-);;
-
-INSERT INTO _migrate_movies
-SELECT
-    id,
-    title,
-    original_title,
-    release_year,
-    media_type,
-    imdb_id,
-    imdb_score,
-    imdb_votes,
-    runtime,
-    genres,
-    created,
-    updated
-FROM movies
-WHERE true;;
-
-DROP TABLE movies;;
-
-ALTER TABLE _migrate_movies
-RENAME TO movies;;