diff --git a/align_data/db/session.py b/align_data/db/session.py
index 2e80c4b4..18acfdb8 100644
--- a/align_data/db/session.py
+++ b/align_data/db/session.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # We create a single engine for the entire application
-engine = create_engine(DB_CONNECTION_URI, echo=False)
+engine = create_engine(DB_CONNECTION_URI, echo=False, pool_pre_ping=True)
 
 
 @contextmanager