diff --git a/api/api/settings.py b/api/api/settings.py
index ecabc1917..7b67f5ddb 100644
--- a/api/api/settings.py
+++ b/api/api/settings.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
         "USER": "desec",
         "PASSWORD": os.environ["DESECSTACK_DBAPI_PASSWORD_desec"],
         "HOST": "dbapi",
+        "CONN_MAX_AGE": 3600,  # don't reconnect to database on each request
     },
 }