diff --git a/cps/__init__.py b/cps/__init__.py
index 575a5a8a..1f28b918 100644
--- a/cps/__init__.py
+++ b/cps/__init__.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ lm.session_protection = 'strong'
 
 ub.init_db(cli.settingspath)
 # pylint: disable=no-member
-config = config_sql.load_configuration(ub.Scoped_Session)
+config = config_sql.load_configuration()
 
 web_server = WebServer()
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def create_app():
     log.info('Starting Calibre Web...')
     Principal(app)
     lm.init_app(app)
-    app.secret_key = os.getenv('SECRET_KEY', config_sql.get_flask_session_key(ub.Scoped_Session))
+    app.secret_key = os.getenv('SECRET_KEY', config.get_flask_session_key())
 
     web_server.init_app(app, config)
 
@@ -114,7 +114,6 @@ def create_app():
         services.goodreads_support.connect(config.config_goodreads_api_key,
                                            config.config_goodreads_api_secret,
                                            config.config_use_goodreads)
-
     return app
 
 @babel.localeselector
diff --git a/cps/config_sql.py b/cps/config_sql.py
index eabe4ba7..3e531eef 100644
--- a/cps/config_sql.py
+++ b/cps/config_sql.py
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ class _ConfigSQL(object):
     # pylint: disable=no-member
     def __init__(self, session):
         self._session = session
+        self._session.expire_on_commit = False
         self._settings = None
         self.db_configured = None
         self.config_calibre_dir = None
@@ -241,6 +242,14 @@ class _ConfigSQL(object):
     def get_mail_server_configured(self):
         return not bool(self.mail_server == constants.DEFAULT_MAIL_SERVER)
 
+    def get_flask_session_key(self):
+        flask_settings = self._session.query(_Flask_Settings).one_or_none()
+        if flask_settings == None:
+            flask_settings = _Flask_Settings(os.urandom(32))
+            self._session.add(flask_settings)
+            self._session.commit()
+        return flask_settings.flask_session_key
+
 
     def set_from_dictionary(self, dictionary, field, convertor=None, default=None, encode=None):
         '''Possibly updates a field of this object.
@@ -273,6 +282,10 @@ class _ConfigSQL(object):
 
     def load(self):
         '''Load all configuration values from the underlying storage.'''
+        #own = False
+        #if not self._session:
+        #    self._session = ub.Scoped_Session()
+        #    own = True
         s = self._read_from_storage()  # type: _Settings
         for k, v in s.__dict__.items():
             if k[0] != '_':
@@ -395,8 +408,8 @@ def _migrate_database(session):
     _migrate_table(session, _Flask_Settings)
 
 
-def load_configuration(Session):
-    session = Session()
+def load_configuration():
+    session = ub.Scoped_Session()
     _migrate_database(session)
 
     if not session.query(_Settings).count():
@@ -410,15 +423,4 @@ def load_configuration(Session):
         session.query(ub.User).filter(ub.User.mature_content != True). \
             update({"denied_tags": conf.config_mature_content_tags}, synchronize_session=False)
         session.commit()
-    session.close()
     return conf
-
-def get_flask_session_key(Session):
-    session = Session()
-    flask_settings = session.query(_Flask_Settings).one_or_none()
-    if flask_settings == None:
-        flask_settings = _Flask_Settings(os.urandom(32))
-        session.add(flask_settings)
-        session.commit()
-    session.close()
-    return flask_settings.flask_session_key