diff --git a/src/zm_db.h b/src/zm_db.h
index c707ad2b7..1f8273fc1 100644
--- a/src/zm_db.h
+++ b/src/zm_db.h
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ class zmDbRow {
 extern MYSQL dbconn;
 extern RecursiveMutex db_mutex;
 
+extern bool zmDbConnected;
+
 bool zmDbConnect();
 void zmDbClose();
 
diff --git a/src/zm_logger.cpp b/src/zm_logger.cpp
index 011a0166e..654e3e21f 100644
--- a/src/zm_logger.cpp
+++ b/src/zm_logger.cpp
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ Logger::Level Logger::databaseLevel(Logger::Level databaseLevel) {
     databaseLevel = limit(databaseLevel);
     if ( mDatabaseLevel != databaseLevel ) {
       if ( (databaseLevel > NOLOG) && (mDatabaseLevel <= NOLOG) ) { // <= NOLOG would be NOOPT
-        if ( !zmDbConnect() ) {
+        if ( !zmDbConnected ) {
           databaseLevel = NOLOG;
         }
       }  // end if ( databaseLevel > NOLOG && mDatabaseLevel <= NOLOG )