diff --git a/src/wormhole/server/database.py b/src/wormhole/server/database.py
index 00bd508..c772af7 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/server/database.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/server/database.py
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ def get_db(dbfile, target_version=TARGET_VERSION, stderr=sys.stderr):
     except (EnvironmentError, sqlite3.OperationalError) as e:
         raise DBError("Unable to create/open db file %s: %s" % (dbfile, e))
     db.row_factory = dict_factory
+    db.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON")
+    problems = db.execute("PRAGMA foreign_key_check").fetchall()
+    if problems:
+        raise DBError("failed foreign key check: %s" % (problems,))
 
     if must_create:
         schema = get_schema(target_version)