diff --git a/luamods/wolfadmin/auth/auth.lua b/luamods/wolfadmin/auth/auth.lua
index cb23d54..86b2e50 100644
--- a/luamods/wolfadmin/auth/auth.lua
+++ b/luamods/wolfadmin/auth/auth.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 -- You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 -- along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+local db = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".db.db")
+
 local events = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".util.events")
 local settings = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".util.settings")
 
@@ -116,6 +118,13 @@ auth.PERM_IMMUNE = "immune"
 -- this, but it will suffice.
 function auth.onGameInit()
     if settings.get("g_standalone") == 1 then
+        if not db.isConnected() then
+            -- FIXME simple workaround to deny any commands
+            function auth.isPlayerAllowed() return false end
+
+            return
+        end
+
         srv = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".auth.acl")
 
         srv.readPermissions()
diff --git a/luamods/wolfadmin/commands/server/acl.lua b/luamods/wolfadmin/commands/server/acl.lua
index 64ba131..ac912e6 100644
--- a/luamods/wolfadmin/commands/server/acl.lua
+++ b/luamods/wolfadmin/commands/server/acl.lua
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 local acl = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".auth.acl")
 
+local db = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".db.db")
+
 local commands = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".commands.commands")
 
 local settings = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".util.settings")
@@ -195,4 +197,4 @@ function commandAcl(command, action, ...)
     
     return true
 end
-commands.addserver("acl", commandAcl, (settings.get("g_standalone") == 0))
+commands.addserver("acl", commandAcl, (settings.get("g_standalone") == 0 or not db.isConnected()))
diff --git a/luamods/wolfadmin/db/db.lua b/luamods/wolfadmin/db/db.lua
index 7f9740e..a30aaed 100644
--- a/luamods/wolfadmin/db/db.lua
+++ b/luamods/wolfadmin/db/db.lua
@@ -36,12 +36,16 @@ function db.oninit()
         elseif settings.get("db_type") == "mysql" then
             con = require (wolfa_getLuaPath()..".db.mysql")
         else
-            error("invalid database system (none|sqlite3|mysql)")
+            outputDebug("Invalid database system (none|sqlite3|mysql), defaulting to 'none'.")
+
+            return
         end
 
         setmetatable(db, {__index = con})
 
-        db.start()
+        if not db.start() then
+            outputDebug("Database could not be loaded, only limited functionality is available.", 3)
+        end
     end
 end
 events.handle("onGameInit", db.oninit)
diff --git a/luamods/wolfadmin/db/mysql.lua b/luamods/wolfadmin/db/mysql.lua
index aac1020..d084372 100644
--- a/luamods/wolfadmin/db/mysql.lua
+++ b/luamods/wolfadmin/db/mysql.lua
@@ -514,11 +514,18 @@ function mysql.start()
     con = env:connect(settings.get("db_database"), settings.get("db_username"), settings.get("db_password"), settings.get("db_hostname"), settings.get("db_port"))
 
     if not con then
-        error("could not connect to database")
+        outputDebug("Could not connect to database.", 3)
+
+        return false
     elseif not mysql.isSchemaExistent() then
         mysql.close()
-        error("schema does not exist")
+
+        outputDebug("Database schema does not exist.", 3)
+
+        return false
     end
+
+    return true
 end
 
 function mysql.close(doSave)
diff --git a/luamods/wolfadmin/db/sqlite3.lua b/luamods/wolfadmin/db/sqlite3.lua
index 4f477c7..4296e9d 100644
--- a/luamods/wolfadmin/db/sqlite3.lua
+++ b/luamods/wolfadmin/db/sqlite3.lua
@@ -522,15 +522,22 @@ function sqlite3.start()
     con = env:connect(uri)
 
     if not con then
-        error("could not connect to database")
+        outputDebug("Could not connect to database.", 3)
+
+        return false
     elseif not sqlite3.isSchemaExistent() then
         sqlite3.close()
-        error("schema does not exist")
+
+        outputDebug("Database schema does not exist.", 3)
+
+        return false
     end
 
     -- enable foreign key enforcement
     assert(con:execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys=1"))
     assert(con:execute("PRAGMA synchronous=0"))
+
+    return true
 end
 
 function sqlite3.close(doSave)