diff --git a/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbBase.cs b/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbBase.cs
index cb61f2422b..0f3cbf2e11 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbBase.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbBase.cs
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             await db.DbContext.SaveChangesAsync();
         }
 
-        private async Task<IQueryable<AdminLog>> GetAdminLogsQuery(ServerDbContext db, LogFilter? filter = null)
+        private static IQueryable<AdminLog> GetAdminLogsQuery(ServerDbContext db, LogFilter? filter = null)
         {
             IQueryable<AdminLog> query = db.AdminLog;
 
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public async IAsyncEnumerable<string> GetAdminLogMessages(LogFilter? filter = null)
         {
             await using var db = await GetDb();
-            var query = await GetAdminLogsQuery(db.DbContext, filter);
+            var query = GetAdminLogsQuery(db.DbContext, filter);
 
             await foreach (var log in query.Select(log => log.Message).AsAsyncEnumerable())
             {
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public async IAsyncEnumerable<SharedAdminLog> GetAdminLogs(LogFilter? filter = null)
         {
             await using var db = await GetDb();
-            var query = await GetAdminLogsQuery(db.DbContext, filter);
+            var query = GetAdminLogsQuery(db.DbContext, filter);
             query = query.Include(log => log.Players);
 
             await foreach (var log in query.AsAsyncEnumerable())
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public async IAsyncEnumerable<JsonDocument> GetAdminLogsJson(LogFilter? filter = null)
         {
             await using var db = await GetDb();
-            var query = await GetAdminLogsQuery(db.DbContext, filter);
+            var query = GetAdminLogsQuery(db.DbContext, filter);
 
             await foreach (var json in query.Select(log => log.Json).AsAsyncEnumerable())
             {
diff --git a/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbManager.cs b/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbManager.cs
index 0a520706d1..718d56293a 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbManager.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbManager.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
     {
         void Init();
 
+        void Shutdown();
+
         #region Preferences
         Task<PlayerPreferences> InitPrefsAsync(NetUserId userId, ICharacterProfile defaultProfile);
         Task SaveSelectedCharacterIndexAsync(NetUserId userId, int index);
@@ -260,6 +262,10 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         private LoggingProvider _msLogProvider = default!;
         private ILoggerFactory _msLoggerFactory = default!;
 
+        private bool _synchronous;
+        // When running in integration tests, we'll use a single in-memory SQLite database connection.
+        // This is that connection, close it when we shut down.
+        private SqliteConnection? _sqliteInMemoryConnection;
 
         public void Init()
         {
@@ -269,12 +275,14 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
                 builder.AddProvider(_msLogProvider);
             });
 
+            _synchronous = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.DatabaseSynchronous);
+
             var engine = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.DatabaseEngine).ToLower();
             switch (engine)
             {
                 case "sqlite":
-                    var sqliteOptions = CreateSqliteOptions();
-                    _db = new ServerDbSqlite(sqliteOptions);
+                    SetupSqlite(out var contextFunc, out var inMemory);
+                    _db = new ServerDbSqlite(contextFunc, inMemory);
                     break;
                 case "postgres":
                     var pgOptions = CreatePostgresOptions();
@@ -285,58 +293,63 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             }
         }
 
+        public void Shutdown()
+        {
+            _sqliteInMemoryConnection?.Dispose();
+        }
+
         public Task<PlayerPreferences> InitPrefsAsync(NetUserId userId, ICharacterProfile defaultProfile)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.InitPrefsAsync(userId, defaultProfile);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.InitPrefsAsync(userId, defaultProfile));
         }
 
         public Task SaveSelectedCharacterIndexAsync(NetUserId userId, int index)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.SaveSelectedCharacterIndexAsync(userId, index);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.SaveSelectedCharacterIndexAsync(userId, index));
         }
 
         public Task SaveCharacterSlotAsync(NetUserId userId, ICharacterProfile? profile, int slot)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.SaveCharacterSlotAsync(userId, profile, slot);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.SaveCharacterSlotAsync(userId, profile, slot));
         }
 
         public Task DeleteSlotAndSetSelectedIndex(NetUserId userId, int deleteSlot, int newSlot)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.DeleteSlotAndSetSelectedIndex(userId, deleteSlot, newSlot);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.DeleteSlotAndSetSelectedIndex(userId, deleteSlot, newSlot));
         }
 
         public Task SaveAdminOOCColorAsync(NetUserId userId, Color color)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.SaveAdminOOCColorAsync(userId, color);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.SaveAdminOOCColorAsync(userId, color));
         }
 
         public Task<PlayerPreferences?> GetPlayerPreferencesAsync(NetUserId userId)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetPlayerPreferencesAsync(userId);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetPlayerPreferencesAsync(userId));
         }
 
         public Task AssignUserIdAsync(string name, NetUserId userId)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AssignUserIdAsync(name, userId);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AssignUserIdAsync(name, userId));
         }
 
         public Task<NetUserId?> GetAssignedUserIdAsync(string name)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetAssignedUserIdAsync(name);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetAssignedUserIdAsync(name));
         }
 
         public Task<ServerBanDef?> GetServerBanAsync(int id)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetServerBanAsync(id);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetServerBanAsync(id));
         }
 
         public Task<ServerBanDef?> GetServerBanAsync(
@@ -345,7 +358,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             ImmutableArray<byte>? hwId)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetServerBanAsync(address, userId, hwId);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetServerBanAsync(address, userId, hwId));
         }
 
         public Task<List<ServerBanDef>> GetServerBansAsync(
@@ -355,19 +368,19 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             bool includeUnbanned=true)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetServerBansAsync(address, userId, hwId, includeUnbanned);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetServerBansAsync(address, userId, hwId, includeUnbanned));
         }
 
         public Task AddServerBanAsync(ServerBanDef serverBan)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddServerBanAsync(serverBan);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddServerBanAsync(serverBan));
         }
 
         public Task AddServerUnbanAsync(ServerUnbanDef serverUnban)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddServerUnbanAsync(serverUnban);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddServerUnbanAsync(serverUnban));
         }
 
         public Task UpdateBanExemption(NetUserId userId, ServerBanExemptFlags flags)
@@ -386,7 +399,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public Task<ServerRoleBanDef?> GetServerRoleBanAsync(int id)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetServerRoleBanAsync(id);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetServerRoleBanAsync(id));
         }
 
         public Task<List<ServerRoleBanDef>> GetServerRoleBansAsync(
@@ -396,19 +409,19 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             bool includeUnbanned = true)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetServerRoleBansAsync(address, userId, hwId, includeUnbanned);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetServerRoleBansAsync(address, userId, hwId, includeUnbanned));
         }
 
         public Task AddServerRoleBanAsync(ServerRoleBanDef serverRoleBan)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddServerRoleBanAsync(serverRoleBan);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddServerRoleBanAsync(serverRoleBan));
         }
 
         public Task AddServerRoleUnbanAsync(ServerRoleUnbanDef serverRoleUnban)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddServerRoleUnbanAsync(serverRoleUnban);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddServerRoleUnbanAsync(serverRoleUnban));
         }
         #endregion
 
@@ -417,13 +430,13 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public Task<List<PlayTime>> GetPlayTimes(Guid player)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetPlayTimes(player);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetPlayTimes(player));
         }
 
         public Task UpdatePlayTimes(IReadOnlyCollection<PlayTimeUpdate> updates)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.UpdatePlayTimes(updates);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.UpdatePlayTimes(updates));
         }
 
         #endregion
@@ -435,19 +448,19 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             ImmutableArray<byte> hwId)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.UpdatePlayerRecord(userId, userName, address, hwId);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.UpdatePlayerRecord(userId, userName, address, hwId));
         }
 
         public Task<PlayerRecord?> GetPlayerRecordByUserName(string userName, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetPlayerRecordByUserName(userName, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetPlayerRecordByUserName(userName, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task<PlayerRecord?> GetPlayerRecordByUserId(NetUserId userId, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetPlayerRecordByUserId(userId, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetPlayerRecordByUserId(userId, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task<int> AddConnectionLogAsync(
@@ -458,91 +471,91 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             ConnectionDenyReason? denied)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddConnectionLogAsync(userId, userName, address, hwId, denied);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddConnectionLogAsync(userId, userName, address, hwId, denied));
         }
 
         public Task AddServerBanHitsAsync(int connection, IEnumerable<ServerBanDef> bans)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddServerBanHitsAsync(connection, bans);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddServerBanHitsAsync(connection, bans));
         }
 
         public Task<Admin?> GetAdminDataForAsync(NetUserId userId, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetAdminDataForAsync(userId, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetAdminDataForAsync(userId, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task<AdminRank?> GetAdminRankAsync(int id, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetAdminRankDataForAsync(id, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetAdminRankDataForAsync(id, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task<((Admin, string? lastUserName)[] admins, AdminRank[])> GetAllAdminAndRanksAsync(
             CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetAllAdminAndRanksAsync(cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetAllAdminAndRanksAsync(cancel));
         }
 
         public Task RemoveAdminAsync(NetUserId userId, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.RemoveAdminAsync(userId, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.RemoveAdminAsync(userId, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task AddAdminAsync(Admin admin, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddAdminAsync(admin, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddAdminAsync(admin, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task UpdateAdminAsync(Admin admin, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.UpdateAdminAsync(admin, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.UpdateAdminAsync(admin, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task RemoveAdminRankAsync(int rankId, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.RemoveAdminRankAsync(rankId, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.RemoveAdminRankAsync(rankId, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task AddAdminRankAsync(AdminRank rank, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddAdminRankAsync(rank, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddAdminRankAsync(rank, cancel));
         }
 
         public Task<int> AddNewRound(Server server, params Guid[] playerIds)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddNewRound(server, playerIds);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddNewRound(server, playerIds));
         }
 
         public Task<Round> GetRound(int id)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetRound(id);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetRound(id));
         }
 
         public Task AddRoundPlayers(int id, params Guid[] playerIds)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddRoundPlayers(id, playerIds);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddRoundPlayers(id, playerIds));
         }
 
         public Task UpdateAdminRankAsync(AdminRank rank, CancellationToken cancel = default)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.UpdateAdminRankAsync(rank, cancel);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.UpdateAdminRankAsync(rank, cancel));
         }
 
         public async Task<Server> AddOrGetServer(string serverName)
         {
-            var (server, existed) = await _db.AddOrGetServer(serverName);
+            var (server, existed) = await RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddOrGetServer(serverName));
             if (existed)
                 DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
             else
@@ -554,7 +567,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public Task AddAdminLogs(List<QueuedLog> logs)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddAdminLogs(logs);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddAdminLogs(logs));
         }
 
         public IAsyncEnumerable<string> GetAdminLogMessages(LogFilter? filter = null)
@@ -578,43 +591,43 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
         public Task<bool> GetWhitelistStatusAsync(NetUserId player)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetWhitelistStatusAsync(player);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetWhitelistStatusAsync(player));
         }
 
         public Task AddToWhitelistAsync(NetUserId player)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddToWhitelistAsync(player);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddToWhitelistAsync(player));
         }
 
         public Task RemoveFromWhitelistAsync(NetUserId player)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.RemoveFromWhitelistAsync(player);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.RemoveFromWhitelistAsync(player));
         }
 
         public Task AddUploadedResourceLogAsync(NetUserId user, DateTime date, string path, byte[] data)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.AddUploadedResourceLogAsync(user, date, path, data);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddUploadedResourceLogAsync(user, date, path, data));
         }
 
         public Task PurgeUploadedResourceLogAsync(int days)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.PurgeUploadedResourceLogAsync(days);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.PurgeUploadedResourceLogAsync(days));
         }
 
         public Task<DateTime?> GetLastReadRules(NetUserId player)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetLastReadRules(player);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetLastReadRules(player));
         }
 
         public Task SetLastReadRules(NetUserId player, DateTime time)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.SetLastReadRules(player, time);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.SetLastReadRules(player, time));
         }
 
         public Task<int> AddAdminNote(int? roundId, Guid player, string message, Guid createdBy, DateTime createdAt)
@@ -631,31 +644,55 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
                 LastEditedAt = createdAt
             };
 
-            return _db.AddAdminNote(note);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.AddAdminNote(note));
         }
 
         public Task<AdminNote?> GetAdminNote(int id)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetAdminNote(id);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetAdminNote(id));
         }
 
         public Task<List<AdminNote>> GetAdminNotes(Guid player)
         {
             DbReadOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.GetAdminNotes(player);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.GetAdminNotes(player));
         }
 
         public Task DeleteAdminNote(int id, Guid deletedBy, DateTime deletedAt)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.DeleteAdminNote(id, deletedBy, deletedAt);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.DeleteAdminNote(id, deletedBy, deletedAt));
         }
 
         public Task EditAdminNote(int id, string message, Guid editedBy, DateTime editedAt)
         {
             DbWriteOpsMetric.Inc();
-            return _db.EditAdminNote(id, message, editedBy, editedAt);
+            return RunDbCommand(() => _db.EditAdminNote(id, message, editedBy, editedAt));
+        }
+
+        // Wrapper functions to run DB commands from the thread pool.
+        // This will avoid SynchronizationContext capturing and avoid running CPU work on the main thread.
+        // For SQLite, this will also enable read parallelization (within limits).
+        //
+        // If we're configured to be synchronous (for integration tests) we shouldn't thread pool it,
+        // as that would make things very random and undeterministic.
+        // That only works on SQLite though, since SQLite is internally synchronous anyways.
+
+        private Task<T> RunDbCommand<T>(Func<Task<T>> command)
+        {
+            if (_synchronous)
+                return command();
+
+            return Task.Run(command);
+        }
+
+        private Task RunDbCommand(Func<Task> command)
+        {
+            if (_synchronous)
+                return command();
+
+            return Task.Run(command);
         }
 
         private DbContextOptions<PostgresServerDbContext> CreatePostgresOptions()
@@ -683,35 +720,42 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
             return builder.Options;
         }
 
-        private DbContextOptions<SqliteServerDbContext> CreateSqliteOptions()
+        private void SetupSqlite(out Func<DbContextOptions<SqliteServerDbContext>> contextFunc, out bool inMemory)
         {
-            var builder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<SqliteServerDbContext>();
-
-            var configPreferencesDbPath = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.DatabaseSqliteDbPath);
-            var inMemory = _res.UserData.RootDir == null;
-
 #if USE_SYSTEM_SQLITE
             SQLitePCL.raw.SetProvider(new SQLitePCL.SQLite3Provider_sqlite3());
 #endif
-            SqliteConnection connection;
+
+            // Can't re-use the SqliteConnection across multiple threads, so we have to make it every time.
+
+            Func<SqliteConnection> getConnection;
+
+            var configPreferencesDbPath = _cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.DatabaseSqliteDbPath);
+            inMemory = _res.UserData.RootDir == null;
+
             if (!inMemory)
             {
                 var finalPreferencesDbPath = Path.Combine(_res.UserData.RootDir!, configPreferencesDbPath);
                 Logger.DebugS("db.manager", $"Using SQLite DB \"{finalPreferencesDbPath}\"");
-                connection = new SqliteConnection($"Data Source={finalPreferencesDbPath}");
+                getConnection = () => new SqliteConnection($"Data Source={finalPreferencesDbPath}");
             }
             else
             {
-                Logger.DebugS("db.manager", $"Using in-memory SQLite DB");
-                connection = new SqliteConnection("Data Source=:memory:");
+                Logger.DebugS("db.manager", "Using in-memory SQLite DB");
+                _sqliteInMemoryConnection = new SqliteConnection("Data Source=:memory:");
                 // When using an in-memory DB we have to open it manually
-                // so EFCore doesn't open, close and wipe it.
-                connection.Open();
+                // so EFCore doesn't open, close and wipe it every operation.
+                _sqliteInMemoryConnection.Open();
+                getConnection = () => _sqliteInMemoryConnection;
             }
 
-            builder.UseSqlite(connection);
-            SetupLogging(builder);
-            return builder.Options;
+            contextFunc = () =>
+            {
+                var builder = new DbContextOptionsBuilder<SqliteServerDbContext>();
+                builder.UseSqlite(getConnection());
+                SetupLogging(builder);
+                return builder.Options;
+            };
         }
 
         private void SetupLogging(DbContextOptionsBuilder builder)
diff --git a/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbSqlite.cs b/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbSqlite.cs
index e9b1b23859..99c43e8d50 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbSqlite.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Database/ServerDbSqlite.cs
@@ -20,29 +20,41 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
     /// </summary>
     public sealed class ServerDbSqlite : ServerDbBase
     {
-        // For SQLite we use a single DB context via SQLite.
+        private readonly Func<DbContextOptions<SqliteServerDbContext>> _options;
+
         // This doesn't allow concurrent access so that's what the semaphore is for.
         // That said, this is bloody SQLite, I don't even think EFCore bothers to truly async it.
-        private readonly SemaphoreSlim _prefsSemaphore = new(1, 1);
+        private readonly SemaphoreSlim _prefsSemaphore;
 
         private readonly Task _dbReadyTask;
-        private readonly SqliteServerDbContext _prefsCtx;
 
         private int _msDelay;
 
-        public ServerDbSqlite(DbContextOptions<SqliteServerDbContext> options)
+        public ServerDbSqlite(Func<DbContextOptions<SqliteServerDbContext>> options, bool inMemory)
         {
-            _prefsCtx = new SqliteServerDbContext(options);
+            _options = options;
+
+            var prefsCtx = new SqliteServerDbContext(options());
 
             var cfg = IoCManager.Resolve<IConfigurationManager>();
+
+            // When inMemory we re-use the same connection, so we can't have any concurrency.
+            var concurrency = inMemory ? 1 : cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.DatabaseSqliteConcurrency);
+            _prefsSemaphore = new SemaphoreSlim(concurrency, concurrency);
+
             if (cfg.GetCVar(CCVars.DatabaseSynchronous))
             {
-                _prefsCtx.Database.Migrate();
+                prefsCtx.Database.Migrate();
                 _dbReadyTask = Task.CompletedTask;
+                prefsCtx.Dispose();
             }
             else
             {
-                _dbReadyTask = Task.Run(() => _prefsCtx.Database.Migrate());
+                _dbReadyTask = Task.Run(() =>
+                {
+                    prefsCtx.Database.Migrate();
+                    prefsCtx.Dispose();
+                });
             }
 
             cfg.OnValueChanged(CCVars.DatabaseSqliteDelay, v => _msDelay = v, true);
@@ -523,30 +535,34 @@ namespace Content.Server.Database
 
             await _prefsSemaphore.WaitAsync();
 
-            return new DbGuardImpl(this);
+            var dbContext = new SqliteServerDbContext(_options());
+
+            return new DbGuardImpl(this, dbContext);
         }
 
         protected override async Task<DbGuard> GetDb()
         {
-            return await GetDbImpl();
+            return await GetDbImpl().ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
         private sealed class DbGuardImpl : DbGuard
         {
             private readonly ServerDbSqlite _db;
+            private readonly SqliteServerDbContext _ctx;
 
-            public DbGuardImpl(ServerDbSqlite db)
+            public DbGuardImpl(ServerDbSqlite db, SqliteServerDbContext dbContext)
             {
                 _db = db;
+                _ctx = dbContext;
             }
 
-            public override ServerDbContext DbContext => _db._prefsCtx;
-            public SqliteServerDbContext SqliteDbContext => _db._prefsCtx;
+            public override ServerDbContext DbContext => _ctx;
+            public SqliteServerDbContext SqliteDbContext => _ctx;
 
-            public override ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+            public override async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
             {
+                await _ctx.DisposeAsync();
                 _db._prefsSemaphore.Release();
-                return default;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/Content.Server/Entry/EntryPoint.cs b/Content.Server/Entry/EntryPoint.cs
index 454ce38198..b62c447244 100644
--- a/Content.Server/Entry/EntryPoint.cs
+++ b/Content.Server/Entry/EntryPoint.cs
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Entry
         private ServerUpdateManager _updateManager = default!;
         private PlayTimeTrackingManager? _playTimeTracking;
         private IEntitySystemManager? _sysMan;
+        private IServerDbManager? _dbManager;
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public override void Init()
@@ -94,13 +95,14 @@ namespace Content.Server.Entry
                 _updateManager = IoCManager.Resolve<ServerUpdateManager>();
                 _playTimeTracking = IoCManager.Resolve<PlayTimeTrackingManager>();
                 _sysMan = IoCManager.Resolve<IEntitySystemManager>();
+                _dbManager = IoCManager.Resolve<IServerDbManager>();
 
                 logManager.GetSawmill("Storage").Level = LogLevel.Info;
                 logManager.GetSawmill("db.ef").Level = LogLevel.Info;
 
                 IoCManager.Resolve<IAdminLogManager>().Initialize();
                 IoCManager.Resolve<IConnectionManager>().Initialize();
-                IoCManager.Resolve<IServerDbManager>().Init();
+                _dbManager.Init();
                 IoCManager.Resolve<IServerPreferencesManager>().Init();
                 IoCManager.Resolve<INodeGroupFactory>().Initialize();
                 IoCManager.Resolve<IGamePrototypeLoadManager>().Initialize();
@@ -173,6 +175,7 @@ namespace Content.Server.Entry
         {
             _playTimeTracking?.Shutdown();
             _sysMan?.GetEntitySystemOrNull<StationSystem>()?.OnServerDispose();
+            _dbManager?.Shutdown();
         }
 
         private static void LoadConfigPresets(IConfigurationManager cfg, IResourceManager res, ISawmill sawmill)
diff --git a/Content.Shared/CCVar/CCVars.cs b/Content.Shared/CCVar/CCVars.cs
index a5d5b37d24..4aad6a4440 100644
--- a/Content.Shared/CCVar/CCVars.cs
+++ b/Content.Shared/CCVar/CCVars.cs
@@ -449,6 +449,17 @@ namespace Content.Shared.CCVar
         public static readonly CVarDef<int> DatabaseSqliteDelay =
             CVarDef.Create("database.sqlite_delay", DefaultSqliteDelay, CVar.SERVERONLY);
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Amount of concurrent SQLite database operations.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>
+        /// Note that SQLite is not a properly asynchronous database and also has limited read/write concurrency.
+        /// Increasing this number may allow more concurrent reads, but it probably won't matter much.
+        /// SQLite operations are normally ran on the thread pool, which may cause thread pool starvation if the concurrency is too high.
+        /// </remarks>
+        public static readonly CVarDef<int> DatabaseSqliteConcurrency =
+            CVarDef.Create("database.sqlite_concurrency", 3, CVar.SERVERONLY);
+
 #if DEBUG
         private const int DefaultSqliteDelay = 1;
 #else
diff --git a/Content.Tests/Server/Preferences/ServerDbSqliteTests.cs b/Content.Tests/Server/Preferences/ServerDbSqliteTests.cs
index 125a895740..50e679cb6e 100644
--- a/Content.Tests/Server/Preferences/ServerDbSqliteTests.cs
+++ b/Content.Tests/Server/Preferences/ServerDbSqliteTests.cs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ namespace Content.Tests.Server.Preferences
             var conn = new SqliteConnection("Data Source=:memory:");
             conn.Open();
             builder.UseSqlite(conn);
-            return new ServerDbSqlite(builder.Options);
+            return new ServerDbSqlite(() => builder.Options, true);
         }
 
         [Test]