diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index eb47ea9c3..30072dbd1 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ libdqlite_la_SOURCES = \
   src/registry.c \
   src/request.c \
   src/response.c \
+  src/revamp.c \
   src/roles.c \
   src/server.c \
   src/stmt.c \
diff --git a/src/bind.c b/src/bind.c
index 1bd622986..d32e20cdc 100644
--- a/src/bind.c
+++ b/src/bind.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "tuple.h"
 
 /* Bind a single parameter. */
-static int bind_one(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, int n, struct value *value)
+static int bind_one(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, int n, const struct value *value)
 {
 	int rc;
 
@@ -48,37 +48,79 @@ static int bind_one(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, int n, struct value *value)
 	return rc;
 }
 
-int bind__params(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, struct cursor *cursor, int format)
+int parseParams(struct cursor *cursor, int format, struct value **out)
 {
 	struct tuple_decoder decoder;
+	struct value *head;
+	struct value *prev;
 	unsigned long i;
-	int rc;
+	int rv;
 
 	assert(format == TUPLE__PARAMS || format == TUPLE__PARAMS32);
 
-	sqlite3_reset(stmt);
-
 	/* If the payload has been fully consumed, it means there are no
 	 * parameters to bind. */
 	if (cursor->cap == 0) {
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	rc = tuple_decoder__init(&decoder, 0, format, cursor);
-	if (rc != 0) {
-		return rc;
+	rv = tuple_decoder__init(&decoder, 0, format, cursor);
+	if (rv != 0) {
+		goto err;
 	}
+
+	head = sqlite3_malloc(sizeof(*head));
+	if (head == NULL) {
+		rv = DQLITE_NOMEM;
+		goto err;
+	}
+	prev = head;
 	for (i = 0; i < tuple_decoder__n(&decoder); i++) {
-		struct value value;
-		rc = tuple_decoder__next(&decoder, &value);
-		if (rc != 0) {
-			return rc;
+		prev->next = sqlite3_malloc(sizeof(*prev->next));
+		if (prev->next == NULL) {
+			goto err_after_alloc_head;
 		}
-		rc = bind_one(stmt, (int)(i + 1), &value);
-		if (rc != 0) {
-			return rc;
+		rv = tuple_decoder__next(&decoder, prev->next);
+		if (rv != 0) {
+			goto err_after_alloc_head;
 		}
+		prev = prev->next;
 	}
 
+	*out = head;
 	return 0;
+
+err_after_alloc_head:
+	freeParams(head);
+err:
+	return rv;
+}
+
+int bindParams(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, const struct value *params)
+{
+	int i;
+	int rv;
+
+	i = 1;
+	for (const struct value *cur = params; cur != NULL; cur = cur->next) {
+		rv = bind_one(stmt, i, cur);
+		if (rv != 0) {
+			return rv;
+		}
+		i += 1;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void freeParams(struct value *params)
+{
+	struct value *cur;
+	struct value *old;
+
+	cur = params;
+	while (cur != NULL) {
+		old = cur;
+		cur = old->next;
+		sqlite3_free(old);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/bind.h b/src/bind.h
index 1b2bc5a60..ebc019f95 100644
--- a/src/bind.h
+++ b/src/bind.h
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@
 
 #include "lib/serialize.h"
 
-/**
- * Bind the parameters of the given statement by decoding the given payload.
- */
-int bind__params(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, struct cursor *cursor, int format);
+struct value;
+
+int parseParams(struct cursor *cursor, int format, struct value **out);
+
+int bindParams(sqlite3_stmt *stmt, const struct value *params);
+
+void freeParams(struct value *params);
 
 #endif /* BIND_H_*/
diff --git a/src/conn.c b/src/conn.c
index 1b031bc5b..33a59f2b4 100644
--- a/src/conn.c
+++ b/src/conn.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "message.h"
 #include "protocol.h"
 #include "request.h"
+#include "revamp.h"
 #include "tracing.h"
 #include "transport.h"
 
@@ -295,7 +296,8 @@ int conn__start(struct conn *c,
 		struct uv_stream_s *stream,
 		struct raft_uv_transport *uv_transport,
 		struct id_state seed,
-		conn_close_cb close_cb)
+		conn_close_cb close_cb,
+		struct db_context *db_ctx)
 {
 	int rv;
 	(void)loop;
@@ -309,7 +311,7 @@ int conn__start(struct conn *c,
 	c->transport.data = c;
 	c->uv_transport = uv_transport;
 	c->close_cb = close_cb;
-	gateway__init(&c->gateway, config, registry, raft, seed);
+	gateway__init(&c->gateway, config, registry, raft, seed, db_ctx);
 	rv = buffer__init(&c->read);
 	if (rv != 0) {
 		goto err_after_transport_init;
diff --git a/src/conn.h b/src/conn.h
index fb93c8f27..5da7d0be0 100644
--- a/src/conn.h
+++ b/src/conn.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "gateway.h"
 #include "id.h"
 #include "message.h"
+#include "revamp.h"
 
 /**
  * Callbacks.
@@ -52,7 +53,8 @@ int conn__start(struct conn *c,
 		struct uv_stream_s *stream,
 		struct raft_uv_transport *uv_transport,
 		struct id_state seed,
-		conn_close_cb close_cb);
+		conn_close_cb close_cb,
+		struct db_context *db_ctx);
 
 /**
  * Force closing the connection. The close callback will be invoked when it's
diff --git a/src/gateway.c b/src/gateway.c
index 61288a1c1..dfe2108e6 100644
--- a/src/gateway.c
+++ b/src/gateway.c
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ void gateway__init(struct gateway *g,
 		   struct config *config,
 		   struct registry *registry,
 		   struct raft *raft,
-		   struct id_state seed)
+		   struct id_state seed,
+		   struct db_context *db_ctx)
 {
 	tracef("gateway init");
 	g->config = config;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ void gateway__init(struct gateway *g,
 	g->protocol = DQLITE_PROTOCOL_VERSION;
 	g->client_id = 0;
 	g->random_state = seed;
+	g->db_ctx = db_ctx;
 }
 
 void gateway__leader_close(struct gateway *g, int reason)
@@ -465,6 +467,7 @@ static int handle_exec(struct gateway *g, struct handle *req)
 	struct request_exec request = {0};
 	int tuple_format;
 	uint64_t req_id;
+	struct value *params;
 	int rv;
 
 	switch (req->schema) {
@@ -491,12 +494,20 @@ static int handle_exec(struct gateway *g, struct handle *req)
 	LOOKUP_DB(request.db_id);
 	LOOKUP_STMT(request.stmt_id);
 	FAIL_IF_CHECKPOINTING;
-	rv = bind__params(stmt->stmt, cursor, tuple_format);
+	rv = parseParams(cursor, tuple_format, &params);
+	if (rv != 0) {
+		tracef("handle exec parse params failed %d", rv);
+		failure(req, rv, "parse parameters");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	rv = bindParams(stmt->stmt, params);
 	if (rv != 0) {
 		tracef("handle exec bind failed %d", rv);
+		freeParams(params);
 		failure(req, rv, "bind parameters");
 		return 0;
 	}
+	freeParams(params);
 	req->stmt_id = stmt->id;
 	g->req = req;
 	req_id = idNext(&g->random_state);
@@ -595,6 +606,7 @@ static int handle_query(struct gateway *g, struct handle *req)
 	int tuple_format;
 	bool is_readonly;
 	uint64_t req_id;
+	struct value *params;
 	int rv;
 
 	switch (req->schema) {
@@ -621,12 +633,20 @@ static int handle_query(struct gateway *g, struct handle *req)
 	LOOKUP_DB(request.db_id);
 	LOOKUP_STMT(request.stmt_id);
 	FAIL_IF_CHECKPOINTING;
-	rv = bind__params(stmt->stmt, cursor, tuple_format);
+	rv = parseParams(cursor, tuple_format, &params);
+	if (rv != 0) {
+		tracef("handle query parse params failed %d", rv);
+		failure(req, rv, "bind parameters");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	rv = bindParams(stmt->stmt, params);
 	if (rv != 0) {
 		tracef("handle query bind failed %d", rv);
+		freeParams(params);
 		failure(req, rv, "bind parameters");
 		return 0;
 	}
+	freeParams(params);
 	req->stmt_id = stmt->id;
 	g->req = req;
 
@@ -697,6 +717,7 @@ static void handle_exec_sql_next(struct gateway *g,
 	const char *tail;
 	int tuple_format;
 	uint64_t req_id;
+	struct value *params;
 	int rv;
 
 	if (req->sql == NULL || strcmp(req->sql, "") == 0) {
@@ -728,8 +749,14 @@ static void handle_exec_sql_next(struct gateway *g,
 				/* Should have been caught by handle_exec_sql */
 				assert(0);
 		}
-		rv = bind__params(stmt, cursor, tuple_format);
-		if (rv != SQLITE_OK) {
+		rv = parseParams(cursor, tuple_format, &params);
+		if (rv != 0) {
+			failure(req, rv, "parse parameters");
+			goto done_after_prepare;
+		}
+		rv = bindParams(stmt, params);
+		if (rv != 0) {
+			freeParams(params);
 			failure(req, rv, "bind parameters");
 			goto done_after_prepare;
 		}
@@ -847,6 +874,7 @@ static void querySqlBarrierCb(struct barrier *barrier, int status)
 	int tuple_format;
 	bool is_readonly;
 	uint64_t req_id;
+	struct value *params;
 	int rv;
 
 	if (status != 0) {
@@ -886,9 +914,17 @@ static void querySqlBarrierCb(struct barrier *barrier, int status)
 			/* Should have been caught by handle_query_sql */
 			assert(0);
 	}
-	rv = bind__params(stmt, cursor, tuple_format);
+	rv = parseParams(cursor, tuple_format, &params);
+	if (rv != 0) {
+		tracef("handle query sql parse params failed %d", rv);
+		sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+		failure(req, rv, "parse parameters");
+		return;
+	}
+	rv = bindParams(stmt, params);
 	if (rv != 0) {
 		tracef("handle query sql bind failed %d", rv);
+		freeParams(params);
 		sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
 		failure(req, rv, "bind parameters");
 		return;
diff --git a/src/gateway.h b/src/gateway.h
index dd07fdd59..c6fcacc49 100644
--- a/src/gateway.h
+++ b/src/gateway.h
@@ -37,13 +37,15 @@ struct gateway
 	uint64_t protocol;           /* Protocol format version */
 	uint64_t client_id;
 	struct id_state random_state; /* For generating IDs */
+	struct db_context *db_ctx;
 };
 
 void gateway__init(struct gateway *g,
 		   struct config *config,
 		   struct registry *registry,
 		   struct raft *raft,
-		   struct id_state seed);
+		   struct id_state seed,
+		   struct db_context *db_ctx);
 
 void gateway__close(struct gateway *g);
 
diff --git a/src/revamp.c b/src/revamp.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18745b686
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/revamp.c
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include "revamp.h"
diff --git a/src/revamp.h b/src/revamp.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd5eed561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/revamp.h
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#ifndef DQLITE_REVAMP_H
+#define DQLITE_REVAMP_H
+
+#include <semaphore.h>
+
+struct db_context
+{
+	sem_t sem;
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/server.c b/src/server.c
index 75b9e8d07..760367d9e 100644
--- a/src/server.c
+++ b/src/server.c
@@ -167,6 +167,8 @@ void dqlite__close(struct dqlite_node *d)
 	if (!d->initialized) {
 		return;
 	}
+	sem_destroy(&d->db_ctx->sem);
+	free(d->db_ctx);
 	raft_free(d->listener);
 	rv = sem_destroy(&d->stopped);
 	assert(rv == 0); /* Fails only if sem object is not valid */
@@ -526,6 +528,9 @@ static void stopCb(uv_async_t *stop)
 		conn__stop(conn);
 	}
 	raft_close(&d->raft, raftCloseCb);
+
+	sem_post(&d->db_ctx->sem);
+	pthread_join(d->db_thread, NULL);
 }
 
 /* Callback invoked as soon as the loop as started.
@@ -624,7 +629,7 @@ static void listenCb(uv_stream_t *listener, int status)
 		goto err;
 	}
 	rv = conn__start(conn, &t->config, &t->loop, &t->registry, &t->raft,
-			 stream, &t->raft_transport, seed, destroy_conn);
+			 stream, &t->raft_transport, seed, destroy_conn, t->db_ctx);
 	if (rv != 0) {
 		goto err_after_conn_alloc;
 	}
@@ -671,10 +676,27 @@ static void roleManagementTimerCb(uv_timer_t *handle)
 	RolesAdjust(d);
 }
 
+static void *dbTask(void *arg)
+{
+	struct db_context *ctx = arg;
+	sem_wait(&ctx->sem);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static int taskRun(struct dqlite_node *d)
 {
 	int rv;
 
+	d->db_ctx = malloc(sizeof *d->db_ctx);
+	if (d->db_ctx == NULL) {
+		return DQLITE_NOMEM;
+	}
+	rv = sem_init(&d->db_ctx->sem, 0, 0);
+	assert(rv == 0);
+
+	rv = pthread_create(&d->db_thread, NULL, dbTask, d->db_ctx);
+	assert(rv == 0);
+
 	/* TODO: implement proper cleanup upon error by spinning the loop a few
 	 * times. */
 	assert(d->listener != NULL);
diff --git a/src/server.h b/src/server.h
index 300e74086..4803127fd 100644
--- a/src/server.h
+++ b/src/server.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "lib/assert.h"
 #include "logger.h"
 #include "registry.h"
+#include "revamp.h"
 
 #define DQLITE_ERRMSG_BUF_SIZE 300
 
@@ -57,6 +58,8 @@ struct dqlite_node
 	void *connect_func_arg; /* User data for connection function */
 	char errmsg[DQLITE_ERRMSG_BUF_SIZE]; /* Last error occurred */
 	struct id_state random_state;        /* For seeding ID generation */
+	pthread_t db_thread;
+	struct db_context *db_ctx;
 };
 
 /* Dynamic array of node info objects. This is the in-memory representation of
diff --git a/src/tuple.h b/src/tuple.h
index 4f4ba9bab..732e87e6a 100644
--- a/src/tuple.h
+++ b/src/tuple.h
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ struct value
 		int64_t unixtime;    /* Unix time in seconds since epoch */
 		uint64_t boolean;
 	};
+	struct value *next;
 };
 
 /**