diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py b/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py
index 7208e8280..26a57c409 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ def acfactory(pytestconfig, tmpdir, request, session_liveconfig, data):
             ac = Account(path, logging=self._logging)
             ac._evtracker = ac.add_account_plugin(FFIEventTracker(ac))
             ac._configtracker = ac.add_account_plugin(ConfigureTracker())
+            ac.addr = ac.get_self_contact().addr
             if not quiet:
                 ac.add_account_plugin(FFIEventLogger(ac, logid=logid))
             self._accounts.append(ac)
@@ -320,6 +321,13 @@ def acfactory(pytestconfig, tmpdir, request, session_liveconfig, data):
             ac2._configtracker.wait_finish()
             return ac1, ac2
 
+        def get_many_online_accounts(self, num, move=True, quiet=True):
+            accounts = [self.get_online_configuring_account(move=move, quiet=quiet)
+                        for i in range(num)]
+            for acc in accounts:
+                acc._configtracker.wait_finish()
+            return accounts
+
         def clone_online_account(self, account, pre_generated_key=True):
             self.live_count += 1
             tmpdb = tmpdir.join("livedb%d" % self.live_count)
diff --git a/python/tests/stress_test_db.py b/python/tests/stress_test_db.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f38c5af16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/stress_test_db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+import random
+from queue import Queue
+
+import deltachat
+
+
+def test_db_busy_error(acfactory):
+    # make a number of accounts and put them in one chat
+    accounts = acfactory.get_many_online_accounts(4)
+    contact_addrs = [acc.get_self_contact().addr for acc in accounts]
+    chat = accounts[0].create_group_chat("stress-group")
+    for addr in contact_addrs[1:]:
+        chat.add_contact(chat.account.create_contact(addr))
+
+    # setup auto-responder bots which report back failures/actions
+    report_queue = Queue()
+
+    def report_func(replier, report_type, *report_args):
+        report_queue.put((replier, report_type, report_args))
+
+    # each replier receives all events and sends report events to receive_queue
+    repliers = []
+    for acc in accounts:
+        replier = AutoReplier(acc, exit_probability=0.05, report_func=report_func)
+        acc.add_account_plugin(replier)
+        repliers.append(replier)
+
+    # kick off message sending
+    # after which repliers will reply to each other
+    chat.send_text("hello")
+
+    alive_count = len(accounts)
+    while alive_count > 0:
+        replier, report_type, report_args = report_queue.get(10)
+        addr = replier.account.get_self_contact().addr
+        assert addr
+        if report_type == ReportType.exit:
+            alive_count -= 1
+            print("{} EXIT -- remaining: {}".format(addr, alive_count))
+            replier.account.shutdown(wait=True)
+        elif report_type == ReportType.message_sent:
+            print("{} sent message id={}".format(addr, report_args[0].id))
+        elif report_type == ReportType.message_incoming:
+            print("{} incoming message id={}".format(addr, report_args[0].id))
+        elif report_type == ReportType.ffi_error:
+            print("{} ERROR: {}".format(addr, report_args[0].id))
+            replier.account.shutdown(wait=True)
+            alive_count -= 1
+
+
+class ReportType:
+    exit = "exit"
+    message_sent = "message-sent"
+    ffi_error = "ffi-error"
+    message_incoming = "message-incoming"
+
+
+class AutoReplier:
+    def __init__(self, account, exit_probability, report_func):
+        assert 0 < exit_probability < 1
+        self.account = account
+        self.report_func = report_func
+        self.exit_probability = exit_probability
+        self.exiting = False
+
+    @deltachat.account_hookimpl
+    def ac_incoming_message(self, message):
+        if self.exiting:
+            return
+        message.accept_sender_contact()
+        message.mark_seen()
+        self.report_func(self, ReportType.message_incoming, message)
+        if random.random() <= self.exit_probability:
+            self.exiting = True
+            self.report_func(self, ReportType.exit)
+            return
+
+        # we are still alive, let's send a reply
+        msg = message.chat.send_text("hello, got message id {}".format(message.id))
+        self.report_func(self, ReportType.message_sent, msg)
+
+    @deltachat.account_hookimpl
+    def ac_process_ffi_event(self, ffi_event):
+        if ffi_event.name == "DC_EVENT_ERROR":
+            self.report_func(self, ReportType.ffi_error, ffi_event)