diff --git a/src/collection/backend/lmdb.cc b/src/collection/backend/lmdb.cc
index 1f21e69d99..4f58eb7c7a 100644
--- a/src/collection/backend/lmdb.cc
+++ b/src/collection/backend/lmdb.cc
@@ -37,9 +37,13 @@ namespace backend {
 
 LMDB::LMDB(std::string name) :
     Collection(name), m_env(NULL) {
+    MDB_txn *txn;
     mdb_env_create(&m_env);
     mdb_env_open(m_env, "./modsec-shared-collections",
         MDB_WRITEMAP | MDB_NOSUBDIR, 0664);
+    mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, 0, &txn);
+    mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &m_dbi);
+    mdb_txn_commit(txn);
 }
 
 
@@ -89,23 +93,6 @@ void LMDB::lmdb_debug(int rc, std::string op, std::string scope) {
                 break;
         }
         std::cout << std::endl;
-    } else if (op == "dbi") {
-        std::cout << scope << ", LMDB failure while opening dbi: ";
-        switch (rc) {
-            case MDB_NOTFOUND:
-                std::cout << "not found: the specified database doesn't ";
-                std::cout << "exist in the environment and MDB_CREATE was ";
-                std::cout << "not specified.";
-                break;
-            case MDB_DBS_FULL:
-                std::cout << "full: too many databases have been opened. See ";
-                std::cout << "mdb_env_set_maxdbs().";
-                break;
-            default:
-                std::cout << "not sure what is wrong.";
-                break;
-        }
-        std::cout << std::endl;
     } else if (op == "get") {
         std::cout << scope << ", LMDB failure while getting the key: ";
         switch (rc) {
@@ -169,21 +156,15 @@ std::unique_ptr<std::string> LMDB::resolveFirst(const std::string& var) {
     MDB_val mdb_value_ret;
     std::unique_ptr<std::string> ret = NULL;
     MDB_txn *txn = NULL;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
 
     string2val(var, &mdb_key);
 
-    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, 0, &txn);
+    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, MDB_RDONLY, &txn);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "txn", "resolveFirst");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_txn;
     }
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "resolveFirst");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
-    rc = mdb_get(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+    rc = mdb_get(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "get", "resolveFirst");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_get;
@@ -194,8 +175,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<std::string> LMDB::resolveFirst(const std::string& var) {
         mdb_value_ret.mv_size));
 
 end_get:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     mdb_txn_abort(txn);
 end_txn:
     return ret;
@@ -206,7 +185,6 @@ bool LMDB::storeOrUpdateFirst(const std::string &key,
     const std::string &value) {
     int rc;
     MDB_txn *txn;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     MDB_val mdb_key;
     MDB_val mdb_value;
     MDB_val mdb_value_ret;
@@ -220,23 +198,17 @@ bool LMDB::storeOrUpdateFirst(const std::string &key,
         goto end_txn;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "storeOrUpdateFirst");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
-
-    rc = mdb_get(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+    rc = mdb_get(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "get", "storeOrUpdateFirst");
     if (rc == 0) {
-        rc = mdb_del(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+        rc = mdb_del(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
         lmdb_debug(rc, "del", "storeOrUpdateFirst");
         if (rc != 0) {
             goto end_del;
         }
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_put(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value, 0);
+    rc = mdb_put(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value, 0);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "put", "storeOrUpdateFirst");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_put;
@@ -248,14 +220,12 @@ bool LMDB::storeOrUpdateFirst(const std::string &key,
         goto end_commit;
     }
 
-end_commit:
 end_put:
 end_del:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     if (rc != 0) {
         mdb_txn_abort(txn);
     }
+end_commit:
 end_txn:
     return true;
 }
@@ -265,26 +235,20 @@ void LMDB::resolveSingleMatch(const std::string& var,
     std::vector<const VariableValue *> *l) {
     int rc;
     MDB_txn *txn;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     MDB_val mdb_key;
     MDB_val mdb_value;
     MDB_val mdb_value_ret;
     MDB_cursor *cursor;
 
-    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, 0, &txn);
+    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, MDB_RDONLY, &txn);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "txn", "resolveSingleMatch");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_txn;
     }
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "resolveSingleMatch");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
 
     string2val(var, &mdb_key);
 
-    mdb_cursor_open(txn, dbi, &cursor);
+    mdb_cursor_open(txn, m_dbi, &cursor);
     while ((rc = mdb_cursor_get(cursor, &mdb_key,
             &mdb_value_ret, MDB_NEXT_DUP)) == 0) {
         std::string *a = new std::string(
@@ -295,9 +259,6 @@ void LMDB::resolveSingleMatch(const std::string& var,
     }
 
     mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
-
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     mdb_txn_abort(txn);
 end_txn:
     return;
@@ -307,7 +268,6 @@ void LMDB::resolveSingleMatch(const std::string& var,
 void LMDB::store(std::string key, std::string value) {
     MDB_val mdb_key, mdb_data;
     MDB_txn *txn = NULL;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     int rc;
     MDB_stat mst;
 
@@ -316,15 +276,10 @@ void LMDB::store(std::string key, std::string value) {
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_txn;
     }
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "store");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
 
     string2val(key, &mdb_key);
     string2val(value, &mdb_data);
-    rc = mdb_put(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_data, 0);
+    rc = mdb_put(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_data, 0);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "put", "store");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_put;
@@ -336,13 +291,12 @@ void LMDB::store(std::string key, std::string value) {
         goto end_commit;
     }
 
-end_commit:
 end_put:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
 end_dbi:
     if (rc != 0) {
         mdb_txn_abort(txn);
     }
+end_commit:
 end_txn:
     return;
 }
@@ -352,7 +306,6 @@ bool LMDB::updateFirst(const std::string &key,
     const std::string &value) {
     int rc;
     MDB_txn *txn;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     MDB_val mdb_key;
     MDB_val mdb_value;
     MDB_val mdb_value_ret;
@@ -363,28 +316,22 @@ bool LMDB::updateFirst(const std::string &key,
         goto end_txn;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "updateFirst");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
-
     string2val(key, &mdb_key);
     string2val(value, &mdb_value);
 
-    rc = mdb_get(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+    rc = mdb_get(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "get", "updateFirst");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_get;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_del(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+    rc = mdb_del(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "del", "updateFirst");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_del;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_put(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value, 0);
+    rc = mdb_put(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value, 0);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "put", "updateFirst");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_put;
@@ -396,15 +343,13 @@ bool LMDB::updateFirst(const std::string &key,
         goto end_commit;
     }
 
-end_commit:
 end_put:
 end_del:
 end_get:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     if (rc != 0) {
         mdb_txn_abort(txn);
     }
+end_commit:
 end_txn:
 
     return rc == 0;
@@ -414,7 +359,6 @@ bool LMDB::updateFirst(const std::string &key,
 void LMDB::del(const std::string& key) {
     int rc;
     MDB_txn *txn;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     MDB_val mdb_key;
     MDB_val mdb_value;
     MDB_val mdb_value_ret;
@@ -426,21 +370,15 @@ void LMDB::del(const std::string& key) {
         goto end_txn;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "del");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
-
     string2val(key, &mdb_key);
 
-    rc = mdb_get(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+    rc = mdb_get(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "get", "del");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_get;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_del(txn, dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
+    rc = mdb_del(txn, m_dbi, &mdb_key, &mdb_value_ret);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "del", "del");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_del;
@@ -452,14 +390,12 @@ void LMDB::del(const std::string& key) {
         goto end_commit;
     }
 
-end_commit:
 end_del:
 end_get:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     if (rc != 0) {
         mdb_txn_abort(txn);
     }
+end_commit:
 end_txn:
     return;
 }
@@ -470,25 +406,18 @@ void LMDB::resolveMultiMatches(const std::string& var,
     variables::KeyExclusions &ke) {
     MDB_val key, data;
     MDB_txn *txn = NULL;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     int rc;
     MDB_stat mst;
     size_t keySize = var.size();
     MDB_cursor *cursor;
 
-    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, 0, &txn);
+    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, MDB_RDONLY, &txn);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "txn", "resolveMultiMatches");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_txn;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "resolveMultiMatches");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
-
-    rc = mdb_cursor_open(txn, dbi, &cursor);
+    rc = mdb_cursor_open(txn, m_dbi, &cursor);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "cursor_open", "resolveMultiMatches");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_cursor_open;
@@ -519,8 +448,6 @@ void LMDB::resolveMultiMatches(const std::string& var,
 
     mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
 end_cursor_open:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     mdb_txn_abort(txn);
 end_txn:
     return;
@@ -532,26 +459,19 @@ void LMDB::resolveRegularExpression(const std::string& var,
     variables::KeyExclusions &ke) {
     MDB_val key, data;
     MDB_txn *txn = NULL;
-    MDB_dbi dbi;
     int rc;
     MDB_stat mst;
     MDB_cursor *cursor;
 
     Utils::Regex r(var, true);
 
-    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, 0, &txn);
+    rc = mdb_txn_begin(m_env, NULL, MDB_RDONLY, &txn);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "txn", "resolveRegularExpression");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_txn;
     }
 
-    rc = mdb_dbi_open(txn, NULL, MDB_CREATE | MDB_DUPSORT, &dbi);
-    lmdb_debug(rc, "dbi", "resolveRegularExpression");
-    if (rc != 0) {
-        goto end_dbi;
-    }
-
-    rc = mdb_cursor_open(txn, dbi, &cursor);
+    rc = mdb_cursor_open(txn, m_dbi, &cursor);
     lmdb_debug(rc, "cursor_open", "resolveRegularExpression");
     if (rc != 0) {
         goto end_cursor_open;
@@ -578,8 +498,6 @@ void LMDB::resolveRegularExpression(const std::string& var,
 
     mdb_cursor_close(cursor);
 end_cursor_open:
-    mdb_dbi_close(m_env, dbi);
-end_dbi:
     mdb_txn_abort(txn);
 end_txn:
     return;
diff --git a/src/collection/backend/lmdb.h b/src/collection/backend/lmdb.h
index 5074fdf8fe..dc44c07862 100644
--- a/src/collection/backend/lmdb.h
+++ b/src/collection/backend/lmdb.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ class LMDB :
     void inline lmdb_debug(int rc, std::string op, std::string scope);
 
     MDB_env *m_env;
+    MDB_dbi m_dbi;
 };
 
 }  // namespace backend