diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 25d3a1f44..9e0ef9a08 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/gorilla/sessions v1.2.1 // indirect
 	github.com/gorilla/websocket v1.4.2
 	github.com/h2non/filetype v1.1.1
+	github.com/jackc/pgconn v1.10.0
 	github.com/jackc/pgx/v4 v4.13.0
 	github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.11 // indirect
 	github.com/leodido/go-urn v1.2.1 // indirect
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/account.go b/internal/db/bundb/account.go
index c96d0df9e..f0ccf8711 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/account.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/account.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 
 type accountDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) GetAccountByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.Ac
 	q := a.newAccountQ(account).
 		Where("account.id = ?", id)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := a.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return account, err
 }
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) GetAccountByURI(ctx context.Context, uri string) (*gtsmodel.
 	q := a.newAccountQ(account).
 		Where("account.uri = ?", uri)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := a.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return account, err
 }
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) GetAccountByURL(ctx context.Context, uri string) (*gtsmodel.
 	q := a.newAccountQ(account).
 		Where("account.url = ?", uri)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := a.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return account, err
 }
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) UpdateAccount(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	err = processErrorResponse(err)
+	err = a.conn.ProcessError(err)
 
 	return account, err
 }
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) GetInstanceAccount(ctx context.Context, domain string) (*gts
 			WhereGroup(" AND ", whereEmptyOrNull("domain"))
 	}
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := a.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return account, err
 }
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) GetAccountLastPosted(ctx context.Context, accountID string)
 		Where("account_id = ?", accountID).
 		Column("created_at")
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := a.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return status.CreatedAt, err
 }
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func (a *accountDB) GetLocalAccountByUsername(ctx context.Context, username stri
 		Where("username = ?", username).
 		WhereGroup(" AND ", whereEmptyOrNull("domain"))
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := a.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return account, err
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/admin.go b/internal/db/bundb/admin.go
index 09f2d3bff..29c353a56 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/admin.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/admin.go
@@ -35,13 +35,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/id"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
-	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
 )
 
 type adminDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ func (a *adminDB) IsUsernameAvailable(ctx context.Context, username string) (boo
 		Where("username = ?", username).
 		Where("domain = ?", nil)
 
-	return notExists(ctx, q)
+	return a.conn.NotExists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (a *adminDB) IsEmailAvailable(ctx context.Context, email string) (bool, db.Error) {
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ func (a *adminDB) IsEmailAvailable(ctx context.Context, email string) (bool, db.
 		// fail because we found something
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("email domain %s is blocked", domain)
 	} else if err != sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return false, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return false, a.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	// check if this email is associated with a user already
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ func (a *adminDB) IsEmailAvailable(ctx context.Context, email string) (bool, db.
 		Where("email = ?", email).
 		WhereOr("unconfirmed_email = ?", email)
 
-	return notExists(ctx, q)
+	return a.conn.NotExists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (a *adminDB) NewSignup(ctx context.Context, username string, reason string, requireApproval bool, email string, password string, signUpIP net.IP, locale string, appID string, emailVerified bool, admin bool) (*gtsmodel.User, db.Error) {
@@ -187,7 +186,7 @@ func (a *adminDB) CreateInstanceAccount(ctx context.Context) db.Error {
 		a.log.Infof("instance account %s already exists", username)
 		return nil
 	} else if err != sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return processErrorResponse(err)
+		return a.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	key, err := rsa.GenerateKey(rand.Reader, 2048)
@@ -245,7 +244,7 @@ func (a *adminDB) CreateInstanceInstance(ctx context.Context) db.Error {
 		a.log.Infof("instance instance %s already exists", domain)
 		return nil
 	} else if err != sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return processErrorResponse(err)
+		return a.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	iID, err := id.NewRandomULID()
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/basic.go b/internal/db/bundb/basic.go
index 983b6b810..acf706b65 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/basic.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/basic.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 
 type basicDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) GetByID(ctx context.Context, id string, i interface{}) db.Erro
 		Model(i).
 		Where("id = ?", id)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) GetWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ func (b *basicDB) GetWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, i interface{})
 
 	q := b.conn.NewSelect().Model(i)
 	for _, w := range where {
-
 		if w.Value == nil {
 			q = q.Where("? IS NULL", bun.Ident(w.Key))
 		} else {
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) GetWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, i interface{})
 		}
 	}
 
-	return processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) GetAll(ctx context.Context, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) GetAll(ctx context.Context, i interface{}) db.Error {
 		NewSelect().
 		Model(i)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) DeleteByID(ctx context.Context, id string, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -90,7 +89,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) DeleteByID(ctx context.Context, id string, i interface{}) db.E
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(err)
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) DeleteWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) DeleteWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, i interface
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(err)
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) UpdateByID(ctx context.Context, id string, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) UpdateByID(ctx context.Context, id string, i interface{}) db.E
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(err)
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) UpdateOneByID(ctx context.Context, id string, key string, value interface{}, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) UpdateOneByID(ctx context.Context, id string, key string, valu
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(err)
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) UpdateWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, key string, value interface{}, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -152,7 +151,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) UpdateWhere(ctx context.Context, where []db.Where, key string,
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	return processErrorResponse(err)
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) CreateTable(ctx context.Context, i interface{}) db.Error {
@@ -162,7 +161,7 @@ func (b *basicDB) CreateTable(ctx context.Context, i interface{}) db.Error {
 
 func (b *basicDB) DropTable(ctx context.Context, i interface{}) db.Error {
 	_, err := b.conn.NewDropTable().Model(i).IfExists().Exec(ctx)
-	return processErrorResponse(err)
+	return b.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (b *basicDB) IsHealthy(ctx context.Context) db.Error {
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/bundb.go b/internal/db/bundb/bundb.go
index a24cee3ae..9b9e6c53a 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/bundb.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/bundb.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ type bunDBService struct {
 	db.Status
 	db.Timeline
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ type bunDBService struct {
 // Under the hood, it uses https://github.com/uptrace/bun to create and maintain a database connection.
 func NewBunDBService(ctx context.Context, c *config.Config, log *logrus.Logger) (db.DB, error) {
 	var sqldb *sql.DB
-	var conn *bun.DB
+	var conn *dbConn
 
 	// depending on the database type we're trying to create, we need to use a different driver...
 	switch strings.ToLower(c.DBConfig.Type) {
@@ -87,25 +87,30 @@ func NewBunDBService(ctx context.Context, c *config.Config, log *logrus.Logger)
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not create bundb postgres options: %s", err)
 		}
 		sqldb = stdlib.OpenDB(*opts)
-		conn = bun.NewDB(sqldb, pgdialect.New())
+		conn = &dbConn{
+			DB:      bun.NewDB(sqldb, pgdialect.New()),
+			errProc: processPostgresError,
+		}
 	case dbTypeSqlite:
 		// SQLITE
 		var err error
-
 		sqldb, err = sql.Open("sqlite", c.DBConfig.Address)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not open sqlite db: %s", err)
 		}
-		conn = bun.NewDB(sqldb, sqlitedialect.New())
+		conn = &dbConn{
+			DB:      bun.NewDB(sqldb, sqlitedialect.New()),
+			errProc: processSQLiteError,
+		}
 
 		if strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimPrefix(c.DBConfig.Address, "file:"), ":memory:") {
 			log.Warn("sqlite in-memory database should only be used for debugging")
 
-			// don't close connections on close -- otherwise
+			// don't close connections on disconnect -- otherwise
 			// the SQLite database will be deleted when there
 			// are no active connections
-			sqldb.SetConnMaxLifetime(0)
 			sqldb.SetMaxOpenConns(1000)
+			sqldb.SetConnMaxLifetime(0)
 		}
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("database type %s not supported for bundb", strings.ToLower(c.DBConfig.Type))
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/conn.go b/internal/db/bundb/conn.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6cf85499
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/conn.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package bundb
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
+	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
+)
+
+type dbConn struct {
+	errProc func(error) db.Error // errProc is the SQL-type specific error processor
+	*bun.DB                      // DB is the underlying bun.DB connection
+}
+
+func (conn *dbConn) ProcessError(err error) db.Error {
+	switch {
+	case err == nil:
+		return nil
+	case err == sql.ErrNoRows:
+		return db.ErrNoEntries
+	default:
+		return conn.errProc(err)
+	}
+}
+
+func (conn *dbConn) Exists(ctx context.Context, query *bun.SelectQuery) (bool, db.Error) {
+	// Get the select query result
+	count, err := query.Count(ctx)
+
+	// Process error as our own and check if it exists
+	switch err := conn.ProcessError(err); err {
+	case nil, db.ErrAlreadyExists:
+		return (count != 0), nil
+	default:
+		return false, err
+	}
+}
+
+func (conn *dbConn) NotExists(ctx context.Context, query *bun.SelectQuery) (bool, db.Error) {
+	// Simply inverse of conn.exists()
+	exists, err := conn.Exists(ctx, query)
+	return !exists, err
+}
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/domain.go b/internal/db/bundb/domain.go
index 6aa2b8ffe..e3abaa17f 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/domain.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/domain.go
@@ -27,12 +27,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
-	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
 )
 
 type domainDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ func (d *domainDB) IsDomainBlocked(ctx context.Context, domain string) (bool, db
 		Where("LOWER(domain) = LOWER(?)", domain).
 		Limit(1)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return d.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (d *domainDB) AreDomainsBlocked(ctx context.Context, domains []string) (bool, db.Error) {
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/errors.go b/internal/db/bundb/errors.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..731e3d7e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/errors.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package bundb
+
+import (
+	"github.com/jackc/pgconn"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
+	"modernc.org/sqlite"
+	sqlite3 "modernc.org/sqlite/lib"
+)
+
+// processPostgresError
+func processPostgresError(err error) db.Error {
+	// Attempt to cast as postgres
+	pgErr, ok := err.(*pgconn.PgError)
+	if !ok {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Handle supplied error code:
+	// (https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/errcodes-appendix.html)
+	switch pgErr.Code {
+	case "23505" /* unique_violation */ :
+		return db.ErrAlreadyExists
+	default:
+		return err
+	}
+}
+
+// processSQLiteError
+func processSQLiteError(err error) db.Error {
+	// Attempt to cast as sqlite
+	sqliteErr, ok := err.(*sqlite.Error)
+	if !ok {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Handle supplied error code:
+	switch sqliteErr.Code() {
+	case sqlite3.SQLITE_CONSTRAINT_UNIQUE:
+		return db.ErrAlreadyExists
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/instance.go b/internal/db/bundb/instance.go
index 141b255cf..455bf0223 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/instance.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/instance.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 
 type instanceDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (i *instanceDB) CountInstanceUsers(ctx context.Context, domain string) (int
 
 	count, err := q.Count(ctx)
 
-	return count, processErrorResponse(err)
+	return count, i.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (i *instanceDB) CountInstanceStatuses(ctx context.Context, domain string) (int, db.Error) {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func (i *instanceDB) CountInstanceStatuses(ctx context.Context, domain string) (
 
 	count, err := q.Count(ctx)
 
-	return count, processErrorResponse(err)
+	return count, i.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (i *instanceDB) CountInstanceDomains(ctx context.Context, domain string) (int, db.Error) {
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (i *instanceDB) CountInstanceDomains(ctx context.Context, domain string) (i
 
 	count, err := q.Count(ctx)
 
-	return count, processErrorResponse(err)
+	return count, i.conn.ProcessError(err)
 }
 
 func (i *instanceDB) GetInstanceAccounts(ctx context.Context, domain string, maxID string, limit int) ([]*gtsmodel.Account, db.Error) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func (i *instanceDB) GetInstanceAccounts(ctx context.Context, domain string, max
 		q = q.Limit(limit)
 	}
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := i.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return accounts, err
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/media.go b/internal/db/bundb/media.go
index 04e55ca62..67c2d43d3 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/media.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/media.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 
 type mediaDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (m *mediaDB) GetAttachmentByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.M
 	q := m.newMediaQ(attachment).
 		Where("media_attachment.id = ?", id)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := m.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return attachment, err
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/mention.go b/internal/db/bundb/mention.go
index a444f9b5f..9645c09b6 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/mention.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/mention.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 
 type mentionDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 	cache  cache.Cache
 }
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (m *mentionDB) GetMention(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.Mentio
 	q := m.newMentionQ(mention).
 		Where("mention.id = ?", id)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := m.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	if err == nil && mention != nil {
 		m.cacheMention(id, mention)
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (m *mentionDB) GetMentions(ctx context.Context, ids []string) ([]*gtsmodel.
 	for _, i := range ids {
 		mention, err := m.GetMention(ctx, i)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, processErrorResponse(err)
+			return nil, m.conn.ProcessError(err)
 		}
 		mentions = append(mentions, mention)
 	}
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/notification.go b/internal/db/bundb/notification.go
index 1c30837ec..b95cd02ac 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/notification.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/notification.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 
 type notificationDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 	cache  cache.Cache
 }
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (n *notificationDB) GetNotification(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmo
 	q := n.newNotificationQ(notification).
 		Where("notification.id = ?", id)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := n.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	if err == nil && notification != nil {
 		n.cacheNotification(id, notification)
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func (n *notificationDB) GetNotifications(ctx context.Context, accountID string,
 		q = q.Limit(limit)
 	}
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := n.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (n *notificationDB) GetNotifications(ctx context.Context, accountID string,
 	notifications := []*gtsmodel.Notification{}
 	for _, notifID := range notifIDs {
 		notif, err := n.GetNotification(ctx, notifID.ID)
-		errP := processErrorResponse(err)
+		errP := n.conn.ProcessError(err)
 		if errP != nil {
 			return nil, errP
 		}
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/relationship.go b/internal/db/bundb/relationship.go
index ed144669e..ace11d128 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/relationship.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/relationship.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 
 type relationshipDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) IsBlocked(ctx context.Context, account1 string, account
 			Where("account_id = ?", account2)
 	}
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return r.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (r *relationshipDB) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, account1 string, account2 string) (*gtsmodel.Block, db.Error) {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, account1 string, account2
 		Where("block.account_id = ?", account1).
 		Where("block.target_account_id = ?", account2)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := r.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return block, err
 }
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) IsFollowing(ctx context.Context, sourceAccount *gtsmode
 		Where("target_account_id = ?", targetAccount.ID).
 		Limit(1)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return r.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (r *relationshipDB) IsFollowRequested(ctx context.Context, sourceAccount *gtsmodel.Account, targetAccount *gtsmodel.Account) (bool, db.Error) {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) IsFollowRequested(ctx context.Context, sourceAccount *g
 		Where("account_id = ?", sourceAccount.ID).
 		Where("target_account_id = ?", targetAccount.ID)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return r.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (r *relationshipDB) IsMutualFollowing(ctx context.Context, account1 *gtsmodel.Account, account2 *gtsmodel.Account) (bool, db.Error) {
@@ -201,13 +201,13 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) IsMutualFollowing(ctx context.Context, account1 *gtsmod
 	// make sure account 1 follows account 2
 	f1, err := r.IsFollowing(ctx, account1, account2)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return false, r.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	// make sure account 2 follows account 1
 	f2, err := r.IsFollowing(ctx, account2, account1)
 	if err != nil {
-		return false, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return false, r.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	return f1 && f2, nil
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) AcceptFollowRequest(ctx context.Context, originAccountI
 		Where("account_id = ?", originAccountID).
 		Where("target_account_id = ?", targetAccountID).
 		Scan(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return nil, r.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	// create a new follow to 'replace' the request with
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) AcceptFollowRequest(ctx context.Context, originAccountI
 		Model(follow).
 		On("CONFLICT CONSTRAINT follows_account_id_target_account_id_key DO UPDATE set uri = ?", follow.URI).
 		Exec(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return nil, r.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	// now remove the follow request
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) AcceptFollowRequest(ctx context.Context, originAccountI
 		Where("account_id = ?", originAccountID).
 		Where("target_account_id = ?", targetAccountID).
 		Exec(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return nil, r.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 
 	return follow, nil
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) GetAccountFollowRequests(ctx context.Context, accountID
 	q := r.newFollowQ(&followRequests).
 		Where("target_account_id = ?", accountID)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := r.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return followRequests, err
 }
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) GetAccountFollows(ctx context.Context, accountID string
 	q := r.newFollowQ(&follows).
 		Where("account_id = ?", accountID)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := r.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 
 	return follows, err
 }
@@ -286,7 +286,6 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) CountAccountFollows(ctx context.Context, accountID stri
 }
 
 func (r *relationshipDB) GetAccountFollowedBy(ctx context.Context, accountID string, localOnly bool) ([]*gtsmodel.Follow, db.Error) {
-
 	follows := []*gtsmodel.Follow{}
 
 	q := r.conn.
@@ -306,7 +305,7 @@ func (r *relationshipDB) GetAccountFollowedBy(ctx context.Context, accountID str
 		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
 			return follows, nil
 		}
-		return nil, processErrorResponse(err)
+		return nil, r.conn.ProcessError(err)
 	}
 	return follows, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/session.go b/internal/db/bundb/session.go
index 87e20673d..3a3192a19 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/session.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/session.go
@@ -27,12 +27,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/id"
-	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
 )
 
 type sessionDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ func (s *sessionDB) GetSession(ctx context.Context) (*gtsmodel.RouterSession, db
 
 	_, err := q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	err = processErrorResponse(err)
+	err = s.conn.ProcessError(err)
 
 	return rs, err
 }
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ func (s *sessionDB) CreateSession(ctx context.Context) (*gtsmodel.RouterSession,
 
 	_, err = q.Exec(ctx)
 
-	err = processErrorResponse(err)
+	err = s.conn.ProcessError(err)
 
 	return rs, err
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/status.go b/internal/db/bundb/status.go
index da8d8ca41..b735ffaf4 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/status.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/status.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 
 type statusDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 	cache  cache.Cache
 }
@@ -121,8 +121,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) GetStatusByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*gtsmodel.Stat
 	q := s.newStatusQ(status).
 		Where("status.id = ?", id)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
-
+	err := s.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -144,8 +143,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) GetStatusByURI(ctx context.Context, uri string) (*gtsmodel.St
 	q := s.newStatusQ(status).
 		Where("LOWER(status.uri) = LOWER(?)", uri)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
-
+	err := s.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -167,8 +165,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) GetStatusByURL(ctx context.Context, uri string) (*gtsmodel.St
 	q := s.newStatusQ(status).
 		Where("LOWER(status.url) = LOWER(?)", uri)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
-
+	err := s.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -217,7 +214,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) PutStatus(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status) db.Er
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return processErrorResponse(s.conn.RunInTx(ctx, nil, transaction))
+	return s.conn.ProcessError(s.conn.RunInTx(ctx, nil, transaction))
 }
 
 func (s *statusDB) GetStatusParents(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status, onlyDirect bool) ([]*gtsmodel.Status, db.Error) {
@@ -321,7 +318,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) IsStatusFavedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status,
 		Where("status_id = ?", status.ID).
 		Where("account_id = ?", accountID)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return s.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (s *statusDB) IsStatusRebloggedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status, accountID string) (bool, db.Error) {
@@ -331,7 +328,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) IsStatusRebloggedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Sta
 		Where("boost_of_id = ?", status.ID).
 		Where("account_id = ?", accountID)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return s.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (s *statusDB) IsStatusMutedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status, accountID string) (bool, db.Error) {
@@ -341,7 +338,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) IsStatusMutedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status,
 		Where("status_id = ?", status.ID).
 		Where("account_id = ?", accountID)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return s.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (s *statusDB) IsStatusBookmarkedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status, accountID string) (bool, db.Error) {
@@ -351,7 +348,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) IsStatusBookmarkedBy(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.St
 		Where("status_id = ?", status.ID).
 		Where("account_id = ?", accountID)
 
-	return exists(ctx, q)
+	return s.conn.Exists(ctx, q)
 }
 
 func (s *statusDB) GetStatusFaves(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status) ([]*gtsmodel.StatusFave, db.Error) {
@@ -360,7 +357,7 @@ func (s *statusDB) GetStatusFaves(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status)
 	q := s.newFaveQ(&faves).
 		Where("status_id = ?", status.ID)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := s.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 	return faves, err
 }
 
@@ -370,6 +367,6 @@ func (s *statusDB) GetStatusReblogs(ctx context.Context, status *gtsmodel.Status
 	q := s.newStatusQ(&reblogs).
 		Where("boost_of_id = ?", status.ID)
 
-	err := processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	err := s.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 	return reblogs, err
 }
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/timeline.go b/internal/db/bundb/timeline.go
index cd202f436..dc75f1163 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/timeline.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/timeline.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 
 type timelineDB struct {
 	config *config.Config
-	conn   *bun.DB
+	conn   *dbConn
 	log    *logrus.Logger
 }
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func (t *timelineDB) GetHomeTimeline(ctx context.Context, accountID string, maxI
 
 	q = q.WhereGroup(" AND ", whereGroup)
 
-	return statuses, processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	return statuses, t.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 }
 
 func (t *timelineDB) GetPublicTimeline(ctx context.Context, accountID string, maxID string, sinceID string, minID string, limit int, local bool) ([]*gtsmodel.Status, db.Error) {
@@ -121,13 +121,12 @@ func (t *timelineDB) GetPublicTimeline(ctx context.Context, accountID string, ma
 		q = q.Limit(limit)
 	}
 
-	return statuses, processErrorResponse(q.Scan(ctx))
+	return statuses, t.conn.ProcessError(q.Scan(ctx))
 }
 
 // TODO optimize this query and the logic here, because it's slow as balls -- it takes like a literal second to return with a limit of 20!
 // It might be worth serving it through a timeline instead of raw DB queries, like we do for Home feeds.
 func (t *timelineDB) GetFavedTimeline(ctx context.Context, accountID string, maxID string, minID string, limit int) ([]*gtsmodel.Status, string, string, db.Error) {
-
 	faves := []*gtsmodel.StatusFave{}
 
 	fq := t.conn.
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/util.go b/internal/db/bundb/util.go
index faa80221f..9e1afb87e 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/util.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/util.go
@@ -19,64 +19,9 @@
 package bundb
 
 import (
-	"context"
-	"strings"
-
-	"database/sql"
-
-	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
 )
 
-// processErrorResponse parses the given error and returns an appropriate DBError.
-func processErrorResponse(err error) db.Error {
-	switch err {
-	case nil:
-		return nil
-	case sql.ErrNoRows:
-		return db.ErrNoEntries
-	default:
-		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "duplicate key value violates unique constraint") {
-			return db.ErrAlreadyExists
-		}
-		return err
-	}
-}
-
-func exists(ctx context.Context, q *bun.SelectQuery) (bool, db.Error) {
-	count, err := q.Count(ctx)
-
-	exists := count != 0
-
-	err = processErrorResponse(err)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		if err == db.ErrNoEntries {
-			return false, nil
-		}
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	return exists, nil
-}
-
-func notExists(ctx context.Context, q *bun.SelectQuery) (bool, db.Error) {
-	count, err := q.Count(ctx)
-
-	notExists := count == 0
-
-	err = processErrorResponse(err)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		if err == db.ErrNoEntries {
-			return true, nil
-		}
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	return notExists, nil
-}
-
 // whereEmptyOrNull is a convenience function to return a bun WhereGroup that specifies
 // that the given column should be EITHER an empty string OR null.
 //
diff --git a/vendor/modules.txt b/vendor/modules.txt
index be4982c3d..d98ddb2cf 100644
--- a/vendor/modules.txt
+++ b/vendor/modules.txt
@@ -302,6 +302,7 @@ github.com/h2non/filetype/types
 # github.com/jackc/chunkreader/v2 v2.0.1
 github.com/jackc/chunkreader/v2
 # github.com/jackc/pgconn v1.10.0
+## explicit
 github.com/jackc/pgconn
 github.com/jackc/pgconn/internal/ctxwatch
 github.com/jackc/pgconn/stmtcache