diff --git a/xmtp_mls/src/storage/encrypted_store/sqlcipher_connection.rs b/xmtp_mls/src/storage/encrypted_store/sqlcipher_connection.rs
index 4d0fc4430..07398a0bc 100644
--- a/xmtp_mls/src/storage/encrypted_store/sqlcipher_connection.rs
+++ b/xmtp_mls/src/storage/encrypted_store/sqlcipher_connection.rs
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ impl EncryptedConnection {
             {}
             {}
             PRAGMA journal_mode = WAL;
+            PRAGMA query_only = ON;
         "#,
             pragma_key(hex::encode(key)),
             pragma_plaintext_header()