diff --git a/src/imex.rs b/src/imex.rs
index 60ec4740d..bc0423632 100644
--- a/src/imex.rs
+++ b/src/imex.rs
@@ -569,9 +569,9 @@ async fn import_backup_old(context: &Context, backup_to_import: impl AsRef<Path>
     /* re-open copied database file */
     context
         .sql
-        .open(&context, &context.get_dbfile(), false)
+        .openh(&context, &context.get_dbfile(), false)
         .await
-        .context("Could not re-open db")?;
+        .context("that's just the context")?;
 
     delete_and_reset_all_device_msgs(&context).await?;
 
diff --git a/src/sql.rs b/src/sql.rs
index 137155125..451b6de8a 100644
--- a/src/sql.rs
+++ b/src/sql.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,15 @@ impl Sql {
         res.map_err(|e| format_err!("Could not open db: {}", e))
     }
 
+    pub async fn openh<T: AsRef<Path>>(
+        &self,
+        context: &Context,
+        dbfile: T,
+        readonly: bool,
+    ) -> crate::error::Result<()> {
+        Err(format_err!("This is the actual error the user should see"))
+    }
+
     pub async fn execute<S: AsRef<str>>(
         &self,
         sql: S,