diff --git a/backplane-dns-store.lisp b/backplane-dns-store.lisp
index 6df4a75..5ccee03 100644
--- a/backplane-dns-store.lisp
+++ b/backplane-dns-store.lisp
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@
 (defgeneric set-ipv4 (store domain name ip))
 (defgeneric set-ipv6 (store domain name ip))
 (defgeneric set-sshfp (store domain name sshfp))
+(defgeneric ensure-connection (store))
 
 (defmethod set-ipv4 ((store postgres-dns-store)
                      (domain string)
@@ -140,3 +141,9 @@
                       (sshfps list))
   (if-let ((new-sshfps (mapcar #'sshfp-p sshfps)))
     (replace-records domain name "SSHFP" new-sshfps)))
+
+(defmethod ensure-connection ((store postgres-dns-store))
+  (let ((db postmodern:*database*))
+    (when (not (connected-p conn))
+      (reconnect conn))
+    store))
diff --git a/backplane-dns.lisp b/backplane-dns.lisp
index dc655fd..184e1a4 100644
--- a/backplane-dns.lisp
+++ b/backplane-dns.lisp
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
   (handler-case
       (if-let ((store *dns-store*))
         (-> message
+            (ensure-connection store)
             (handle-dns-message store)
             (handle-dns-response (msg-id message)))
         (make-error :msg "dns store is not initialized"