diff --git a/servatrice/src/servatrice.cpp b/servatrice/src/servatrice.cpp
index 5f810fd62..5576ef1d3 100644
--- a/servatrice/src/servatrice.cpp
+++ b/servatrice/src/servatrice.cpp
@@ -314,6 +314,11 @@ static std::optional<ServerInfo_RoomChannel::AccessLevel> roomChannelAccessFromK
     return std::nullopt;
 }
 
+Server_DatabaseInterface *Servatrice::createMainDatabaseInterface()
+{
+    return new Servatrice_DatabaseInterface(-1, this);
+}
+
 bool Servatrice::initServer()
 {
 
@@ -397,7 +402,11 @@ bool Servatrice::initServer()
     } else {
         databaseType = DatabaseNone;
     }
-    servatriceDatabaseInterface = new Servatrice_DatabaseInterface(-1, this);
+    servatriceDatabaseInterface = createMainDatabaseInterface();
+    if (!servatriceDatabaseInterface) {
+        qCCritical(ServatriceLog) << "Failed to create the database interface; refusing to start.";
+        return false;
+    }
     setDatabaseInterface(servatriceDatabaseInterface);
 
     if (databaseType != DatabaseNone) {
diff --git a/servatrice/src/servatrice.h b/servatrice/src/servatrice.h
index 076bb026e..5c22fdea8 100644
--- a/servatrice/src/servatrice.h
+++ b/servatrice/src/servatrice.h
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ private slots:
 
 protected:
     void doSendIslMessage(const IslMessage &msg, int _serverId) override;
+    /** @brief Creates the database interface the server itself runs on; the shipped server uses MySQL. */
+    virtual Server_DatabaseInterface *createMainDatabaseInterface();
 
 private:
     enum DatabaseType