diff --git a/src/knowledge_base.cpp b/src/knowledge_base.cpp
index 3c53cc6..ce47572 100644
--- a/src/knowledge_base.cpp
+++ b/src/knowledge_base.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,10 @@ obelisk::KnowledgeBase::KnowledgeBase(const char* filename, int flags)
 
 obelisk::KnowledgeBase::~KnowledgeBase()
 {
-    sqlite3_close_v2(dbConnection_);
+    if (dbConnection_)
+    {
+        sqlite3_close_v2(dbConnection_);
+    }
 }
 
 void obelisk::KnowledgeBase::createTable(std::function<const char*()> function)
diff --git a/src/knowledge_base.h b/src/knowledge_base.h
index b1763b5..52e742f 100644
--- a/src/knowledge_base.h
+++ b/src/knowledge_base.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace obelisk
             const int DEFAULT_FLAGS
                 = SQLITE_OPEN_READWRITE | SQLITE_OPEN_CREATE;
             const char* filename_;
-            sqlite3* dbConnection_;
+            sqlite3* dbConnection_ = nullptr;
             int flags_;
             void logSqliteError(int result);