diff --git a/tests/test_db.py b/tests/test_db.py
index d476408..7c4c96e 100644
--- a/tests/test_db.py
+++ b/tests/test_db.py
@@ -20,6 +20,15 @@ def a_movie(**kwds) -> models.Movie:
     return models.Movie(**args)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_current_patch_level(shared_conn: db.Database):
+    async with shared_conn.transaction(force_rollback=True):
+        patch_level = "some-patch-level"
+        assert patch_level != await db.current_patch_level(shared_conn)
+        await db.set_current_patch_level(shared_conn, patch_level)
+        assert patch_level == await db.current_patch_level(shared_conn)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_get(shared_conn: db.Database):
     async with shared_conn.transaction(force_rollback=True):
diff --git a/unwind/db.py b/unwind/db.py
index 6c21a9d..4b90085 100644
--- a/unwind/db.py
+++ b/unwind/db.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from typing import Any, Iterable, Literal, Type, TypeVar
 
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from databases import Database
+from sqlalchemy.dialects.sqlite import insert
 
 from . import config
 from .models import (
@@ -15,7 +16,9 @@ from .models import (
     Rating,
     User,
     asplain,
+    db_patches,
     fromplain,
+    metadata,
     movies,
     optional_fields,
     ratings,
@@ -50,38 +53,22 @@ async def close_connection_pool() -> None:
 
     # Run automatic ANALYZE prior to closing the db,
     # see https://sqlite.com/lang_analyze.html.
-    await db.execute("PRAGMA analysis_limit=400")
-    await db.execute("PRAGMA optimize")
+    await db.execute(sa.text("PRAGMA analysis_limit=400"))
+    await db.execute(sa.text("PRAGMA optimize"))
 
     await db.disconnect()
 
 
-async def _create_patch_db(db):
-    query = """
-        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS db_patches (
-            id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
-            current TEXT
-        )
-    """
-    await db.execute(query)
-
-
-async def current_patch_level(db) -> str:
-    await _create_patch_db(db)
-
-    query = "SELECT current FROM db_patches"
+async def current_patch_level(db: Database) -> str:
+    query = sa.select(db_patches.c.current)
     current = await db.fetch_val(query)
     return current or ""
 
 
-async def set_current_patch_level(db, current: str):
-    await _create_patch_db(db)
-
-    query = """
-        INSERT INTO db_patches VALUES (1, :current)
-        ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE SET current=excluded.current
-    """
-    await db.execute(query, values={"current": current})
+async def set_current_patch_level(db: Database, current: str) -> None:
+    stmt = insert(db_patches).values(id=1, current=current)
+    stmt = stmt.on_conflict_do_update(set_={"current": stmt.excluded.current})
+    await db.execute(stmt)
 
 
 db_patches_dir = Path(__file__).parent / "sql"
@@ -222,8 +209,12 @@ def shared_connection() -> Database:
 
     if _shared_connection is None:
         uri = f"sqlite:///{config.storage_path}"
+        # uri = f"sqlite+aiosqlite:///{config.storage_path}"
         _shared_connection = Database(uri)
 
+        engine = sa.create_engine(uri, future=True)
+        metadata.create_all(engine, tables=[db_patches])
+
     return _shared_connection
 
 
diff --git a/unwind/models.py b/unwind/models.py
index 6d40b35..5628bb0 100644
--- a/unwind/models.py
+++ b/unwind/models.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ JSONObject = dict[str, JSON]
 T = TypeVar("T")
 
 mapper_registry = registry()
+metadata = mapper_registry.metadata
 
 
 def annotations(tp: Type) -> tuple | None:
@@ -203,12 +204,29 @@ def utcnow():
     return datetime.utcnow().replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc)
 
 
+@mapper_registry.mapped
+@dataclass
+class DbPatch:
+    __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:
     __table__ = Table(
         "progress",
-        mapper_registry.metadata,
+        metadata,
         Column("id", String, primary_key=True),  # ULID
         Column("type", String, nullable=False),
         Column("state", String, nullable=False),  # JSON {"percent": ..., "error": ...}
@@ -258,7 +276,7 @@ class Progress:
 class Movie:
     __table__ = Table(
         "movies",
-        mapper_registry.metadata,
+        metadata,
         Column("id", String, primary_key=True),  # ULID
         Column("title", String, nullable=False),
         Column("original_title", String),
@@ -336,7 +354,7 @@ Relation = Annotated[T | None, _RelationSentinel]
 class Rating:
     __table__ = Table(
         "ratings",
-        mapper_registry.metadata,
+        metadata,
         Column("id", String, primary_key=True),  # ULID
         Column("movie_id", ForeignKey("movies.id"), nullable=False),  # ULID
         Column("user_id", ForeignKey("users.id"), nullable=False),  # ULID
@@ -393,7 +411,7 @@ class UserGroup(TypedDict):
 class User:
     __table__ = Table(
         "users",
-        mapper_registry.metadata,
+        metadata,
         Column("id", String, primary_key=True),  # ULID
         Column("imdb_id", String, nullable=False, unique=True),
         Column("name", String, nullable=False),
@@ -433,7 +451,7 @@ class GroupUser(TypedDict):
 class Group:
     __table__ = Table(
         "groups",
-        mapper_registry.metadata,
+        metadata,
         Column("id", String, primary_key=True),  # ULID
         Column("name", String, nullable=False),
         Column("users", String, nullable=False),  # JSON array