diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py
index 5c8672f..095b6c4 100644
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ from jose import JWTError, jwt
 from jose.constants import ALGORITHMS
 from passlib.context import CryptContext
 from pydantic import BaseModel, BaseSettings, Field, validator
-from sqlalchemy import create_engine
-from sqlalchemy.engine import Engine
 
 
 class Settings(BaseSettings):
@@ -69,17 +67,14 @@ class DBConfig(BaseModel):
     mysql_args: list[str] = ["charset=utf8mb4"]
 
     @property
-    async def db_engine(self) -> Engine:
+    def uri(self) -> str:
         """
-        Construct an SQLAlchemy engine
+        Construct a database connection string
         """
 
         if self.type is DBType.sqlite:
             # SQLite backend
-            return create_engine(
-                f"sqlite:///{self.database}",
-                connect_args={"check_same_thread": False},
-            )
+            return f"sqlite:///{self.database}"
 
         elif self.type is DBType.mysql:
             # MySQL backend
@@ -88,12 +83,9 @@ class DBConfig(BaseModel):
             else:
                 args_str = ""
 
-            return create_engine(
-                f"mysql+{self.mysql_driver}://"
-                f"{self.user}:{self.password}@{self.host}"
-                f"/{self.database}{args_str}",
-                pool_recycle=3600,
-            )
+            return (f"mysql+{self.mysql_driver}://"
+                    f"{self.user}:{self.password}@{self.host}"
+                    f"/{self.database}{args_str}")
 
 
 class JWTConfig(BaseModel):
diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py
index e560590..71870fb 100755
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ async def on_startup() -> None:
     # check if configured
     if (current_config := await Config.load()) is not None:
         # connect to database
-        Connection.connect("sqlite:///tmp/vpn.db")
+        Connection.connect(current_config.db.uri)
 
         # # some testing
         # with Connection.use() as db:
diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/admin.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/admin.py
index e856ea9..ce03583 100644
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/admin.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/admin.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ async def initial_configure(
 
     # create config file, connect to database
     await config.save()
-    Connection.connect("sqlite:///tmp/vpn.db")
+    Connection.connect(current_config.db.uri)
 
 
 @router.put(
@@ -91,4 +91,4 @@ async def set_config(
 
     # update config file, reconnect to database
     await new_config.save()
-    Connection.connect("sqlite:///tmp/vpn.db")
+    Connection.connect(current_config.db.uri)