diff --git a/PluralKit.API/Controllers/v2/DiscordControllerV2.cs b/PluralKit.API/Controllers/v2/DiscordControllerV2.cs
index 477ad8ca..ec624236 100644
--- a/PluralKit.API/Controllers/v2/DiscordControllerV2.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.API/Controllers/v2/DiscordControllerV2.cs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public class DiscordControllerV2: PKControllerBase
     [HttpGet("messages/{messageId}")]
     public async Task<ActionResult<JObject>> MessageGet(ulong messageId)
     {
-        var msg = await _db.Execute(c => _repo.GetMessage(c, messageId));
+        var msg = await _repo.GetFullMessage(messageId);
         if (msg == null)
             throw Errors.MessageNotFound;
 
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Checks.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Checks.cs
index f4d37a27..8d00faab 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Checks.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Checks.cs
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ public class Checks
         if (messageId == null || channelId == null)
             throw new PKError(failedToGetMessage);
 
-        var proxiedMsg = await ctx.Database.Execute(conn => ctx.Repository.GetMessage(conn, messageId.Value));
+        var proxiedMsg = await ctx.Repository.GetMessage(messageId.Value);
         if (proxiedMsg != null)
         {
             await ctx.Reply($"{Emojis.Success} This message was proxied successfully.");
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Message.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Message.cs
index ef42ecbb..1bf1bf92 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Message.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Commands/Message.cs
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
 
     public async Task ReproxyMessage(Context ctx)
     {
-        var msg = await GetMessageToEdit(ctx, ReproxyTimeout, true);
+        var (msg, systemId) = await GetMessageToEdit(ctx, ReproxyTimeout, true);
 
-        if (ctx.System.Id != msg.System?.Id)
+        if (ctx.System.Id != systemId)
             throw new PKError("Can't reproxy a message sent by a different system.");
 
         // Get target member ID
@@ -68,14 +68,14 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
         // Fetch members and get the ProxyMember for `target`
         List<ProxyMember> members;
         using (_metrics.Measure.Timer.Time(BotMetrics.ProxyMembersQueryTime))
-            members = (await _repo.GetProxyMembers(ctx.Author.Id, msg.Message.Guild!.Value)).ToList();
+            members = (await _repo.GetProxyMembers(ctx.Author.Id, msg.Guild!.Value)).ToList();
         var match = members.Find(x => x.Id == target.Id);
         if (match == null)
             throw new PKError("Could not find a member to reproxy the message with.");
 
         try
         {
-            await _proxy.ExecuteReproxy(ctx.Message, msg.Message, members, match);
+            await _proxy.ExecuteReproxy(ctx.Message, msg, members, match);
 
             if (ctx.Guild == null)
                 await _rest.CreateReaction(ctx.Channel.Id, ctx.Message.Id, new Emoji { Name = Emojis.Success });
@@ -90,15 +90,15 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
 
     public async Task EditMessage(Context ctx)
     {
-        var msg = await GetMessageToEdit(ctx, EditTimeout, false);
+        var (msg, systemId) = await GetMessageToEdit(ctx, EditTimeout, false);
 
-        if (ctx.System.Id != msg.System?.Id)
+        if (ctx.System.Id != systemId)
             throw new PKError("Can't edit a message sent by a different system.");
 
         if (!ctx.HasNext())
             throw new PKSyntaxError("You need to include the message to edit in.");
 
-        var originalMsg = await _rest.GetMessageOrNull(msg.Message.Channel, msg.Message.Mid);
+        var originalMsg = await _rest.GetMessageOrNull(msg.Channel, msg.Mid);
         if (originalMsg == null)
             throw new PKError("Could not edit message.");
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
         try
         {
             var editedMsg =
-                await _webhookExecutor.EditWebhookMessage(msg.Message.Channel, msg.Message.Mid, newContent);
+                await _webhookExecutor.EditWebhookMessage(msg.Channel, msg.Mid, newContent);
 
             if (ctx.Guild == null)
                 await _rest.CreateReaction(ctx.Channel.Id, ctx.Message.Id, new Emoji { Name = Emojis.Success });
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
             if ((await ctx.BotPermissions).HasFlag(PermissionSet.ManageMessages))
                 await _rest.DeleteMessage(ctx.Channel.Id, ctx.Message.Id);
 
-            await _logChannel.LogMessage(msg.Message, ctx.Message, editedMsg, originalMsg!.Content!);
+            await _logChannel.LogMessage(msg, ctx.Message, editedMsg, originalMsg!.Content!);
         }
         catch (NotFoundException)
         {
@@ -140,18 +140,18 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
         }
     }
 
-    private async Task<FullMessage> GetMessageToEdit(Context ctx, Duration timeout, bool isReproxy)
+    private async Task<(PKMessage, SystemId)> GetMessageToEdit(Context ctx, Duration timeout, bool isReproxy)
     {
         var editType = isReproxy ? "reproxy" : "edit";
         var editTypeAction = isReproxy ? "reproxied" : "edited";
 
-        FullMessage? msg = null;
+        PKMessage? msg = null;
 
         var (referencedMessage, _) = ctx.MatchMessage(false);
         if (referencedMessage != null)
         {
             await using var conn = await ctx.Database.Obtain();
-            msg = await ctx.Repository.GetMessage(conn, referencedMessage.Value);
+            msg = await ctx.Repository.GetMessage(referencedMessage.Value);
             if (msg == null)
                 throw new PKError("This is not a message proxied by PluralKit.");
         }
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
             if (ctx.Guild == null)
                 throw new PKSyntaxError($"You must use a message link to {editType} messages in DMs.");
 
-            PKMessage? recent;
+            ulong? recent = null;
 
             if (isReproxy)
                 recent = await ctx.Repository.GetLastMessage(ctx.Guild.Id, ctx.Channel.Id, ctx.Author.Id);
@@ -172,17 +172,21 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
                 throw new PKSyntaxError($"Could not find a recent message to {editType}.");
 
             await using var conn = await ctx.Database.Obtain();
-            msg = await ctx.Repository.GetMessage(conn, recent.Mid);
+            msg = await ctx.Repository.GetMessage(recent.Value);
             if (msg == null)
                 throw new PKSyntaxError($"Could not find a recent message to {editType}.");
         }
 
-        if (msg.Message.Channel != ctx.Channel.Id)
+        var member = await ctx.Repository.GetMember(msg.Member!.Value);
+        if (member == null)
+            throw new PKSyntaxError($"Could not find a recent message to {editType}.");
+
+        if (msg.Channel != ctx.Channel.Id)
         {
             var error =
                 "The channel where the message was sent does not exist anymore, or you are missing permissions to access it.";
 
-            var channel = await _rest.GetChannelOrNull(msg.Message.Channel);
+            var channel = await _rest.GetChannelOrNull(msg.Channel);
             if (channel == null)
                 throw new PKError(error);
 
@@ -192,16 +196,18 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
                 throw new PKError(error);
         }
 
-        var isLatestMessage = _lastMessageCache.GetLastMessage(ctx.Message.ChannelId)?.Current.Id == ctx.Message.Id
-            ? _lastMessageCache.GetLastMessage(ctx.Message.ChannelId)?.Previous?.Id == msg.Message.Mid
-            : _lastMessageCache.GetLastMessage(ctx.Message.ChannelId)?.Current.Id == msg.Message.Mid;
+        var lastMessage = _lastMessageCache.GetLastMessage(ctx.Message.ChannelId);
 
-        var msgTimestamp = DiscordUtils.SnowflakeToInstant(msg.Message.Mid);
+        var isLatestMessage = lastMessage?.Current.Id == ctx.Message.Id
+            ? lastMessage?.Previous?.Id == msg.Mid
+            : lastMessage?.Current.Id == msg.Mid;
+
+        var msgTimestamp = DiscordUtils.SnowflakeToInstant(msg.Mid);
         if (isReproxy && !isLatestMessage)
             if (SystemClock.Instance.GetCurrentInstant() - msgTimestamp > timeout)
                 throw new PKError($"The message is too old to be {editTypeAction}.");
 
-        return msg;
+        return (msg, member.System);
     }
 
     private async Task<PKMessage?> FindRecentMessage(Context ctx, Duration timeout)
@@ -229,7 +235,7 @@ public class ProxiedMessage
 
         var isDelete = ctx.Match("delete") || ctx.MatchFlag("delete");
 
-        var message = await ctx.Database.Execute(c => ctx.Repository.GetMessage(c, messageId.Value));
+        var message = await ctx.Repository.GetFullMessage(messageId.Value);
         if (message == null)
         {
             if (isDelete)
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Handlers/ReactionAdded.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Handlers/ReactionAdded.cs
index 50952e08..0331e218 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Handlers/ReactionAdded.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Handlers/ReactionAdded.cs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public class ReactionAdded: IEventHandler<MessageReactionAddEvent>
             // Message deletion
             case "\u274C": // Red X
                 {
-                    var msg = await _db.Execute(c => _repo.GetMessage(c, evt.MessageId));
+                    var msg = await _repo.GetMessage(evt.MessageId);
                     if (msg != null)
                         await HandleProxyDeleteReaction(evt, msg);
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public class ReactionAdded: IEventHandler<MessageReactionAddEvent>
             case "\u2753": // Red question mark
             case "\u2754": // White question mark
                 {
-                    var msg = await _db.Execute(c => _repo.GetMessage(c, evt.MessageId));
+                    var msg = await _repo.GetFullMessage(evt.MessageId);
                     if (msg != null)
                         await HandleQueryReaction(evt, msg);
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public class ReactionAdded: IEventHandler<MessageReactionAddEvent>
             case "\u23F0": // Alarm clock
             case "\u2757": // Exclamation mark
                 {
-                    var msg = await _db.Execute(c => _repo.GetMessage(c, evt.MessageId));
+                    var msg = await _repo.GetFullMessage(evt.MessageId);
                     if (msg != null)
                         await HandlePingReaction(evt, msg);
                     break;
@@ -121,15 +121,15 @@ public class ReactionAdded: IEventHandler<MessageReactionAddEvent>
         }
     }
 
-    private async ValueTask HandleProxyDeleteReaction(MessageReactionAddEvent evt, FullMessage msg)
+    private async ValueTask HandleProxyDeleteReaction(MessageReactionAddEvent evt, PKMessage msg)
     {
         if (!(await _cache.PermissionsIn(evt.ChannelId)).HasFlag(PermissionSet.ManageMessages))
             return;
 
-        var system = await _repo.GetSystemByAccount(evt.UserId);
+        var isSameSystem = msg.Member != null && await _repo.IsMemberOwnedByAccount(msg.Member.Value, evt.UserId);
 
-        // Can only delete your own message
-        if (msg.System?.Id != system?.Id && msg.Message.Sender != evt.UserId) return;
+        // Can only delete your own message (same system or same Discord account)
+        if (!isSameSystem && msg.Sender != evt.UserId) return;
 
         try
         {
diff --git a/PluralKit.Bot/Proxy/ProxyService.cs b/PluralKit.Bot/Proxy/ProxyService.cs
index abdd4180..52e12b2b 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Bot/Proxy/ProxyService.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Bot/Proxy/ProxyService.cs
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ public class ProxyService
             // cache is out of date or channel is empty.
             return proxyName;
 
-        var pkMessage = await _db.Execute(conn => _repo.GetMessage(conn, lastMessage.Id));
+        var pkMessage = await _repo.GetMessage(lastMessage.Id);
 
         if (lastMessage.AuthorUsername == proxyName)
         {
@@ -385,12 +385,12 @@ public class ProxyService
                 return FixSameNameInner(proxyName);
 
             // last message was proxied by a different member
-            if (pkMessage.Member?.Id != member.Id)
+            if (pkMessage.Member != member.Id)
                 return FixSameNameInner(proxyName);
         }
 
         // if we fixed the name last message and it's the same member proxying, we want to fix it again
-        if (lastMessage.AuthorUsername == FixSameNameInner(proxyName) && pkMessage?.Member?.Id == member.Id)
+        if (lastMessage.AuthorUsername == FixSameNameInner(proxyName) && pkMessage?.Member == member.Id)
             return FixSameNameInner(proxyName);
 
         // No issues found, current proxy name is fine.
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/CoreConfig.cs b/PluralKit.Core/CoreConfig.cs
index a4f06c7a..c70f9791 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/CoreConfig.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/CoreConfig.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ namespace PluralKit.Core;
 public class CoreConfig
 {
     public string Database { get; set; }
+    public string? MessagesDatabase { get; set; }
     public string? DatabasePassword { get; set; }
     public string RedisAddr { get; set; }
     public bool UseRedisMetrics { get; set; } = false;
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Database.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Database.cs
index ca11d683..d7625dd9 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Database.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Database.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ internal partial class Database: IDatabase
     private readonly DbConnectionCountHolder _countHolder;
     private readonly DatabaseMigrator _migrator;
     private readonly string _connectionString;
+    private readonly string _messagesConnectionString;
 
     public Database(CoreConfig config, DbConnectionCountHolder countHolder, ILogger logger,
                     IMetrics metrics, DatabaseMigrator migrator)
@@ -35,20 +36,26 @@ internal partial class Database: IDatabase
         _migrator = migrator;
         _logger = logger.ForContext<Database>();
 
-        var connectionString = new NpgsqlConnectionStringBuilder(_config.Database)
+        string connectionString(string src)
         {
-            Pooling = true,
-            Enlist = false,
-            NoResetOnClose = true,
+            var builder = new NpgsqlConnectionStringBuilder(src)
+            {
+                Pooling = true,
+                Enlist = false,
+                NoResetOnClose = true,
 
-            // Lower timeout than default (15s -> 2s), should ideally fail-fast instead of hanging
-            Timeout = 2
-        };
+                // Lower timeout than default (15s -> 2s), should ideally fail-fast instead of hanging
+                Timeout = 2
+            };
 
-        if (_config.DatabasePassword != null)
-            connectionString.Password = _config.DatabasePassword;
+            if (_config.DatabasePassword != null)
+                builder.Password = _config.DatabasePassword;
 
-        _connectionString = connectionString.ConnectionString;
+            return builder.ConnectionString;
+        }
+
+        _connectionString = connectionString(_config.Database);
+        _messagesConnectionString = connectionString(_config.MessagesDatabase ?? _config.Database);
     }
 
     private static readonly PostgresCompiler _compiler = new();
@@ -88,14 +95,14 @@ internal partial class Database: IDatabase
     }
 
     // TODO: make sure every SQL query is behind a logged query method
-    public async Task<IPKConnection> Obtain()
+    public async Task<IPKConnection> Obtain(bool messages = false)
     {
         // Mark the request (for a handle, I guess) in the metrics
         _metrics.Measure.Meter.Mark(CoreMetrics.DatabaseRequests);
 
         // Create a connection and open it
         // We wrap it in PKConnection for tracing purposes
-        var conn = new PKConnection(new NpgsqlConnection(_connectionString), _countHolder, _logger, _metrics);
+        var conn = new PKConnection(new NpgsqlConnection(messages ? _messagesConnectionString : _connectionString), _countHolder, _logger, _metrics);
         await conn.OpenAsync();
         return conn;
     }
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/DatabaseQueries.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Database/DatabaseQueries.cs
index a41e101b..073c99dd 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Database/DatabaseQueries.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/DatabaseQueries.cs
@@ -31,10 +31,17 @@ internal partial class Database: IDatabase
             yield return val;
     }
 
-    public async Task<int> ExecuteQuery(Query q, string extraSql = "", [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "")
+    public async Task<T> QueryFirst<T>(string q, object param = null, [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "", bool messages = false)
+    {
+        using var conn = await Obtain(messages);
+        using (_metrics.Measure.Timer.Time(CoreMetrics.DatabaseQuery, new MetricTags("Query", queryName)))
+            return await conn.QueryFirstOrDefaultAsync<T>(q, param);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<int> ExecuteQuery(Query q, string extraSql = "", [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "", bool messages = false)
     {
         var query = _compiler.Compile(q);
-        using var conn = await Obtain();
+        using var conn = await Obtain(messages);
         using (_metrics.Measure.Timer.Time(CoreMetrics.DatabaseQuery, new MetricTags("Query", queryName)))
             return await conn.ExecuteAsync(query.Sql + $" {extraSql}", query.NamedBindings);
     }
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/IDatabase.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Database/IDatabase.cs
index f49153ba..8de9870f 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Database/IDatabase.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/IDatabase.cs
@@ -7,15 +7,16 @@ namespace PluralKit.Core;
 public interface IDatabase
 {
     Task ApplyMigrations();
-    Task<IPKConnection> Obtain();
+    Task<IPKConnection> Obtain(bool messages = false);
     Task Execute(Func<IPKConnection, Task> func);
     Task<T> Execute<T>(Func<IPKConnection, Task<T>> func);
     IAsyncEnumerable<T> Execute<T>(Func<IPKConnection, IAsyncEnumerable<T>> func);
-    Task<int> ExecuteQuery(Query q, string extraSql = "", [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "");
+    Task<int> ExecuteQuery(Query q, string extraSql = "", [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "", bool messages = false);
 
     Task<int> ExecuteQuery(IPKConnection? conn, Query q, string extraSql = "",
                            [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "");
 
+    Task<T> QueryFirst<T>(string q, object param = null, [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "", bool messages = false);
     Task<T> QueryFirst<T>(Query q, string extraSql = "", [CallerMemberName] string queryName = "");
 
     Task<T> QueryFirst<T>(IPKConnection? conn, Query q, string extraSql = "",
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Member.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Member.cs
index ae548602..d676b11a 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Member.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Member.cs
@@ -89,4 +89,12 @@ public partial class ModelRepository
         if (oldMember != null)
             _ = _dispatch.Dispatch(oldMember.System, oldMember.Uuid, DispatchEvent.DELETE_MEMBER);
     }
+
+    public async Task<bool> IsMemberOwnedByAccount(MemberId id, ulong userId)
+    {
+        return await _db.QueryFirst<bool>(
+            "select true from accounts, members where members.id = @member and accounts.uid = @account and members.system = accounts.system",
+            new { member = id, account = userId }
+        );
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Message.cs b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Message.cs
index 9406b6ff..c1a77609 100644
--- a/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Message.cs
+++ b/PluralKit.Core/Database/Repository/ModelRepository.Message.cs
@@ -20,29 +20,38 @@ public partial class ModelRepository
         _logger.Debug("Stored message {@StoredMessage} in channel {Channel}", msg, msg.Channel);
 
         // "on conflict do nothing" in the (pretty rare) case of duplicate events coming in from Discord, which would lead to a DB error before
-        return _db.ExecuteQuery(query, "on conflict do nothing");
+        return _db.ExecuteQuery(query, "on conflict do nothing", messages: true);
     }
 
-    // todo: add a Mapper to QuerySingle and move this to SqlKata
-    public async Task<FullMessage?> GetMessage(IPKConnection conn, ulong id)
+    public async Task<PKMessage?> GetMessage(ulong id)
     {
-        FullMessage Mapper(PKMessage msg, PKMember member, PKSystem system) =>
-            new() { Message = msg, System = system, Member = member };
+        return await _db.QueryFirst<PKMessage?>(
+            "select * from messages where mid = @Id",
+            new { Id = id },
+            messages: true
+        );
+    }
 
-        var query = "select * from messages"
-            + " left join members on messages.member = members.id"
-            + " left join systems on members.system = systems.id"
-            + " where (mid = @Id or original_mid = @Id)";
+    public async Task<FullMessage?> GetFullMessage(ulong id)
+    {
+        var rawMessage = await GetMessage(id);
+        if (rawMessage == null) return null;
 
-        var result = await conn.QueryAsync<PKMessage, PKMember, PKSystem, FullMessage>(
-            query, Mapper, new { Id = id });
-        return result.FirstOrDefault();
+        var member = rawMessage.Member == null ? null : await GetMember(rawMessage.Member.Value);
+        var system = member == null ? null : await GetSystem(member.System);
+
+        return new FullMessage
+        {
+            Message = rawMessage,
+            Member = member,
+            System = system,
+        };
     }
 
     public async Task DeleteMessage(ulong id)
     {
         var query = new Query("messages").AsDelete().Where("mid", id);
-        var rowCount = await _db.ExecuteQuery(query);
+        var rowCount = await _db.ExecuteQuery(query, messages: true);
         if (rowCount > 0)
             _logger.Information("Deleted message {MessageId} from database", id);
     }
@@ -52,22 +61,9 @@ public partial class ModelRepository
         // Npgsql doesn't support ulongs in general - we hacked around it for plain ulongs but tbh not worth it for collections of ulong
         // Hence we map them to single longs, which *are* supported (this is ok since they're Technically (tm) stored as signed longs in the db anyway)
         var query = new Query("messages").AsDelete().WhereIn("mid", ids.Select(id => (long)id).ToArray());
-        var rowCount = await _db.ExecuteQuery(query);
+        var rowCount = await _db.ExecuteQuery(query, messages: true);
         if (rowCount > 0)
             _logger.Information("Bulk deleted messages ({FoundCount} found) from database: {MessageIds}", rowCount,
                 ids);
     }
-
-    public Task<PKMessage?> GetLastMessage(ulong guildId, ulong channelId, ulong accountId)
-    {
-        // Want to index scan on the (guild, sender, mid) index so need the additional constraint
-        var query = new Query("messages")
-            .Where("guild", guildId)
-            .Where("channel", channelId)
-            .Where("sender", accountId)
-            .OrderByDesc("mid")
-            .Limit(1);
-
-        return _db.QueryFirst<PKMessage?>(query);
-    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/services/scheduled_tasks/db.go b/services/scheduled_tasks/db.go
index 62e7cbab..e16076a2 100644
--- a/services/scheduled_tasks/db.go
+++ b/services/scheduled_tasks/db.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var data_db *pgx.Conn
+var messages_db *pgx.Conn
 var stats_db *pgx.Conn
 var rdb *redis.Client
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ func run_simple_pg_query(c *pgx.Conn, sql string) {
 
 func connect_dbs() {
 	data_db = pg_connect(get_env_var("DATA_DB_URI"))
+	messages_db = pg_connect(get_env_var("MESSAGES_DB_URI"))
 	stats_db = pg_connect(get_env_var("STATS_DB_URI"))
 	rdb = redis_connect(get_env_var("REDIS_ADDR"))
 }
diff --git a/services/scheduled_tasks/repo.go b/services/scheduled_tasks/repo.go
index f12ad2d7..7813bb5c 100644
--- a/services/scheduled_tasks/repo.go
+++ b/services/scheduled_tasks/repo.go
@@ -37,6 +37,15 @@ func run_redis_query() []rstatval {
 	return values
 }
 
+func get_message_count() int {
+	var count int
+	row := messages_db.QueryRow(context.Background(), "select count(*) as count from systems")
+	if err := row.Scan(&count); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return count
+}
+
 func run_data_stats_query() map[string]interface{} {
 	s := map[string]interface{}{}
 
diff --git a/services/scheduled_tasks/tasks.go b/services/scheduled_tasks/tasks.go
index 6ea87225..374cd90f 100644
--- a/services/scheduled_tasks/tasks.go
+++ b/services/scheduled_tasks/tasks.go
@@ -36,14 +36,12 @@ func update_db_meta() {
 }
 
 func update_db_message_meta() {
-	// since we're doing this concurrently, it needs a separate db connection
-	tmp_db := pg_connect(get_env_var("DATA_DB_URI"))
-	defer tmp_db.Close(context.Background())
+	count := get_message_count()
 
-	key := "message"
-	q := fmt.Sprintf("update info set %s_count = (select count(*) from %s)", key, plural(key))
-	log.Println("data db query:", q)
-	run_simple_pg_query(tmp_db, q)
+	_, err := data_db.Exec(context.Background(), "update info set message_count = $1", count)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 }
 
 func update_stats() {