diff --git a/src/database/Database.cpp b/src/database/Database.cpp
index 236b9abd9b..7d4a6f05e1 100644
--- a/src/database/Database.cpp
+++ b/src/database/Database.cpp
@@ -311,6 +311,10 @@ Database::upgradeToCurrentSchema()
                          std::to_string(SCHEMA_VERSION));
         throw std::runtime_error(s);
     }
+
+    // do something dubious as a test
+    *((char*)NULL) = '0';
+    
     actBeforeDBSchemaUpgrade();
     while (vers < SCHEMA_VERSION)
     {