diff --git a/proto/backend.proto b/proto/backend.proto
index 69a0480d9..2fa82a35b 100644
--- a/proto/backend.proto
+++ b/proto/backend.proto
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ message BackendInput {
         int64 get_card = 38;
         Card update_card = 39;
         Card add_card = 40;
+        int64 get_deck_config = 41;
+        string add_or_update_deck_config = 42;
+        Empty all_deck_config = 43;
+        Empty new_deck_config = 44;
+        int64 remove_deck_config = 45;
     }
 }
 
@@ -83,6 +88,11 @@ message BackendOutput {
         GetCardOut get_card = 38;
         Empty update_card = 39;
         int64 add_card = 40;
+        string get_deck_config = 41;
+        int64 add_or_update_deck_config = 42;
+        string all_deck_config = 43;
+        string new_deck_config = 44;
+        Empty remove_deck_config = 45;
 
         BackendError error = 2047;
     }
diff --git a/pylib/anki/decks.py b/pylib/anki/decks.py
index bf1927823..35890984e 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/decks.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/decks.py
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ defaultConf = {
 
 class DeckManager:
     decks: Dict[str, Any]
-    dconf: Dict[str, Any]
 
     # Registry save/load
     #############################################################
@@ -103,36 +102,27 @@ class DeckManager:
     def __init__(self, col: anki.storage._Collection) -> None:
         self.col = col.weakref()
         self.decks = {}
-        self.dconf = {}
 
     def load(self, decks: str, dconf: str) -> None:
         self.decks = json.loads(decks)
-        self.dconf = json.loads(dconf)
-        # set limits to within bounds
-        found = False
-        for c in list(self.dconf.values()):
-            for t in ("rev", "new"):
-                pd = "perDay"
-                if c[t][pd] > 999999:
-                    c[t][pd] = 999999
-                    self.save(c)
-                    found = True
-        if not found:
-            self.changed = False
+        self.changed = False
 
     def save(self, g: Optional[Any] = None) -> None:
         "Can be called with either a deck or a deck configuration."
         if g:
-            g["mod"] = intTime()
-            g["usn"] = self.col.usn()
+            # deck conf?
+            if "maxTaken" in g:
+                self.updateConf(g)
+                return
+            else:
+                g["mod"] = intTime()
+                g["usn"] = self.col.usn()
         self.changed = True
 
     def flush(self) -> None:
         if self.changed:
             self.col.db.execute(
-                "update col set decks=?, dconf=?",
-                json.dumps(self.decks),
-                json.dumps(self.dconf),
+                "update col set decks=?", json.dumps(self.decks),
             )
             self.changed = False
 
@@ -368,7 +358,7 @@ class DeckManager:
 
     def allConf(self) -> List:
         "A list of all deck config."
-        return list(self.dconf.values())
+        return list(self.col.backend.all_deck_config().values())
 
     def confForDid(self, did: int) -> Any:
         deck = self.get(did, default=False)
@@ -381,32 +371,25 @@ class DeckManager:
         return deck
 
     def getConf(self, confId: int) -> Any:
-        return self.dconf[str(confId)]
+        return self.col.backend.get_deck_config(confId)
 
     def updateConf(self, g: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
-        self.dconf[str(g["id"])] = g
-        self.save()
+        self.col.backend.add_or_update_deck_config(g)
 
     def confId(self, name: str, cloneFrom: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None) -> int:
         "Create a new configuration and return id."
-        if cloneFrom is None:
-            cloneFrom = defaultConf
-        c = copy.deepcopy(cloneFrom)
-        while 1:
-            id = intTime(1000)
-            if str(id) not in self.dconf:
-                break
-        c["id"] = id
-        c["name"] = name
-        self.dconf[str(id)] = c
-        self.save(c)
-        return id
+        if cloneFrom is not None:
+            conf = copy.deepcopy(cloneFrom)
+            conf["id"] = 0
+        else:
+            conf = self.col.backend.new_deck_config()
+        conf["name"] = name
+        self.updateConf(conf)
+        return conf["id"]
 
     def remConf(self, id) -> None:
         "Remove a configuration and update all decks using it."
-        assert int(id) != 1
         self.col.modSchema(check=True)
-        del self.dconf[str(id)]
         for g in self.all():
             # ignore cram decks
             if "conf" not in g:
@@ -414,6 +397,7 @@ class DeckManager:
             if str(g["conf"]) == str(id):
                 g["conf"] = 1
                 self.save(g)
+        self.col.backend.remove_deck_config(id)
 
     def setConf(self, grp: Dict[str, Any], id: int) -> None:
         grp["conf"] = id
@@ -428,11 +412,10 @@ class DeckManager:
 
     def restoreToDefault(self, conf) -> None:
         oldOrder = conf["new"]["order"]
-        new = copy.deepcopy(defaultConf)
+        new = self.col.backend.new_deck_config()
         new["id"] = conf["id"]
         new["name"] = conf["name"]
-        self.dconf[str(conf["id"])] = new
-        self.save(new)
+        self.updateConf(new)
         # if it was previously randomized, resort
         if not oldOrder:
             self.col.sched.resortConf(new)
diff --git a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
index eab65cebe..4bc547217 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/rsbackend.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # pylint: skip-file
 
 import enum
+import json
 import os
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import (
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@ try:
 except:
     # add compat layer for 32 bit builds that can't use orjson
     print("reverting to stock json")
-    import json
 
     class orjson:  # type: ignore
         def dumps(obj: Any) -> bytes:
@@ -490,6 +490,32 @@ class RustBackend:
     def add_card(self, card: BackendCard) -> None:
         card.id = self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(add_card=card)).add_card
 
+    def get_deck_config(self, dcid: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        jstr = self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(get_deck_config=dcid)).get_deck_config
+        return json.loads(jstr)
+
+    def add_or_update_deck_config(self, conf: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        conf_json = json.dumps(conf)
+        id = self._run_command(
+            pb.BackendInput(add_or_update_deck_config=conf_json)
+        ).add_or_update_deck_config
+        conf["id"] = id
+
+    def all_deck_config(self) -> Dict[int, Dict[str, Any]]:
+        jstr = self._run_command(
+            pb.BackendInput(all_deck_config=pb.Empty())
+        ).all_deck_config
+        return json.loads(jstr)
+
+    def new_deck_config(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        jstr = self._run_command(
+            pb.BackendInput(new_deck_config=pb.Empty())
+        ).new_deck_config
+        return json.loads(jstr)
+
+    def remove_deck_config(self, dcid: int) -> None:
+        self._run_command(pb.BackendInput(remove_deck_config=dcid))
+
 
 def translate_string_in(
     key: TR, **kwargs: Union[str, int, float]
diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
index 0093a062c..94afa4dc9 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::card::{Card, CardID};
 use crate::card::{CardQueue, CardType};
 use crate::collection::{open_collection, Collection};
 use crate::config::SortKind;
+use crate::deckconf::{DeckConf, DeckConfID};
 use crate::decks::DeckID;
 use crate::err::{AnkiError, NetworkErrorKind, Result, SyncErrorKind};
 use crate::i18n::{tr_args, FString, I18n};
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ fn anki_error_to_proto_error(err: AnkiError, i18n: &I18n) -> pb::BackendError {
         AnkiError::Interrupted => V::Interrupted(Empty {}),
         AnkiError::CollectionNotOpen => V::InvalidInput(pb::Empty {}),
         AnkiError::CollectionAlreadyOpen => V::InvalidInput(pb::Empty {}),
+        AnkiError::SchemaChange => V::InvalidInput(pb::Empty {}),
     };
 
     pb::BackendError {
@@ -261,6 +263,16 @@ impl Backend {
                 OValue::UpdateCard(pb::Empty {})
             }
             Value::AddCard(card) => OValue::AddCard(self.add_card(card)?),
+            Value::GetDeckConfig(dcid) => OValue::GetDeckConfig(self.get_deck_config(dcid)?),
+            Value::AddOrUpdateDeckConfig(conf_json) => {
+                OValue::AddOrUpdateDeckConfig(self.add_or_update_deck_config(conf_json)?)
+            }
+            Value::AllDeckConfig(_) => OValue::AllDeckConfig(self.all_deck_config()?),
+            Value::NewDeckConfig(_) => OValue::NewDeckConfig(self.new_deck_config()?),
+            Value::RemoveDeckConfig(dcid) => {
+                self.remove_deck_config(dcid)?;
+                OValue::RemoveDeckConfig(pb::Empty {})
+            }
         })
     }
 
@@ -651,6 +663,37 @@ impl Backend {
         self.with_col(|col| col.transact(None, |ctx| ctx.add_card(&mut card)))?;
         Ok(card.id.0)
     }
+
+    fn get_deck_config(&self, dcid: i64) -> Result<String> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            let conf = col.get_deck_config(DeckConfID(dcid), true)?.unwrap();
+            Ok(serde_json::to_string(&conf)?)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn add_or_update_deck_config(&self, conf_json: String) -> Result<i64> {
+        let mut conf: DeckConf = serde_json::from_str(&conf_json)?;
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            col.transact(None, |col| {
+                col.add_or_update_deck_config(&mut conf)?;
+                Ok(conf.id.0)
+            })
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn all_deck_config(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        self.with_col(|col| {
+            serde_json::to_string(&col.storage.all_deck_conf()?).map_err(Into::into)
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn new_deck_config(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        serde_json::to_string(&DeckConf::default()).map_err(Into::into)
+    }
+
+    fn remove_deck_config(&self, dcid: i64) -> Result<()> {
+        self.with_col(|col| col.transact(None, |col| col.remove_deck_config(DeckConfID(dcid))))
+    }
 }
 
 fn translate_arg_to_fluent_val(arg: &pb::TranslateArgValue) -> FluentValue {
diff --git a/rslib/src/card.rs b/rslib/src/card.rs
index 6a1533e2e..c9ee0467f 100644
--- a/rslib/src/card.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/card.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ impl Undoable for UpdateCardUndo {
             .storage
             .get_card(self.0.id)?
             .ok_or_else(|| AnkiError::invalid_input("card disappeared"))?;
-        // when  called here, update_card should be placing the original content into the redo queue
         col.update_card(&mut self.0.clone(), &current)
     }
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/collection.rs b/rslib/src/collection.rs
index 66c279dd9..a07c7b763 100644
--- a/rslib/src/collection.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/collection.rs
@@ -144,4 +144,12 @@ impl Collection {
         // if we cache this in the future, must make sure to invalidate cache when usn bumped in sync.finish()
         self.storage.usn(self.server)
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn ensure_schema_modified(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        if !self.storage.schema_modified()? {
+            Err(AnkiError::SchemaChange)
+        } else {
+            Ok(())
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/rslib/src/config.rs b/rslib/src/config.rs
index 46c952828..34664c3cb 100644
--- a/rslib/src/config.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/config.rs
@@ -2,19 +2,10 @@
 // License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
 use crate::decks::DeckID;
-use serde::Deserialize as DeTrait;
+use crate::serde::default_on_invalid;
 use serde_aux::field_attributes::deserialize_number_from_string;
 use serde_derive::Deserialize;
-use serde_json::Value;
 
-pub(crate) fn default_on_invalid<'de, T, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<T, D::Error>
-where
-    T: Default + DeTrait<'de>,
-    D: serde::de::Deserializer<'de>,
-{
-    let v: Value = DeTrait::deserialize(deserializer)?;
-    Ok(T::deserialize(v).unwrap_or_default())
-}
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct Config {
diff --git a/rslib/src/deckconf.rs b/rslib/src/deckconf.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..383682b40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/deckconf.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,243 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+use crate::{
+    collection::Collection,
+    define_newtype,
+    err::{AnkiError, Result},
+    serde::default_on_invalid,
+    timestamp::{TimestampMillis, TimestampSecs},
+    types::Usn,
+};
+use serde_aux::field_attributes::{deserialize_bool_from_anything, deserialize_number_from_string};
+use serde_derive::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::Value;
+use serde_repr::{Deserialize_repr, Serialize_repr};
+use serde_tuple::Serialize_tuple;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+define_newtype!(DeckConfID, i64);
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct DeckConf {
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_number_from_string")]
+    pub(crate) id: DeckConfID,
+    #[serde(rename = "mod", deserialize_with = "deserialize_number_from_string")]
+    pub(crate) mtime: TimestampSecs,
+    pub(crate) name: String,
+    pub(crate) usn: Usn,
+    max_taken: i32,
+    autoplay: bool,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "deserialize_bool_from_anything")]
+    timer: bool,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    replayq: bool,
+    pub(crate) new: NewConf,
+    pub(crate) rev: RevConf,
+    pub(crate) lapse: LapseConf,
+    #[serde(flatten)]
+    other: HashMap<String, Value>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct NewConf {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    bury: bool,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    delays: Vec<f32>,
+    initial_factor: u16,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    ints: NewCardIntervals,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    order: NewCardOrder,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    pub(crate) per_day: u32,
+
+    #[serde(flatten)]
+    other: HashMap<String, Value>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize_tuple, Deserialize, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+pub struct NewCardIntervals {
+    good: u16,
+    easy: u16,
+    _unused: u16,
+}
+
+impl Default for NewCardIntervals {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            good: 1,
+            easy: 4,
+            _unused: 7,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize_repr, Deserialize_repr, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[repr(u8)]
+pub enum NewCardOrder {
+    Random = 0,
+    Due = 1,
+}
+
+impl Default for NewCardOrder {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::Due
+    }
+}
+
+fn hard_factor_default() -> f32 {
+    1.2
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct RevConf {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    bury: bool,
+    ease4: f32,
+    ivl_fct: f32,
+    max_ivl: u32,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    pub(crate) per_day: u32,
+    #[serde(default = "hard_factor_default")]
+    hard_factor: f32,
+
+    #[serde(flatten)]
+    other: HashMap<String, Value>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize_repr, Deserialize_repr, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[repr(u8)]
+pub enum LeechAction {
+    Suspend = 0,
+    TagOnly = 1,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, PartialEq, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct LapseConf {
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    delays: Vec<f32>,
+    #[serde(deserialize_with = "default_on_invalid")]
+    leech_action: LeechAction,
+    leech_fails: u32,
+    min_int: u32,
+    mult: f32,
+
+    #[serde(flatten)]
+    other: HashMap<String, Value>,
+}
+
+impl Default for LeechAction {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        LeechAction::Suspend
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for RevConf {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        RevConf {
+            bury: false,
+            ease4: 1.3,
+            ivl_fct: 1.0,
+            max_ivl: 36500,
+            per_day: 200,
+            hard_factor: 1.2,
+            other: Default::default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for NewConf {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        NewConf {
+            bury: false,
+            delays: vec![1.0, 10.0],
+            initial_factor: 2500,
+            ints: NewCardIntervals::default(),
+            order: NewCardOrder::default(),
+            per_day: 20,
+            other: Default::default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for LapseConf {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        LapseConf {
+            delays: vec![10.0],
+            leech_action: LeechAction::default(),
+            leech_fails: 8,
+            min_int: 1,
+            mult: 0.0,
+            other: Default::default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for DeckConf {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        DeckConf {
+            id: DeckConfID(0),
+            mtime: TimestampSecs(0),
+            name: "Default".to_string(),
+            usn: Usn(0),
+            max_taken: 60,
+            autoplay: true,
+            timer: false,
+            replayq: true,
+            new: Default::default(),
+            rev: Default::default(),
+            lapse: Default::default(),
+            other: Default::default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Collection {
+    pub fn get_deck_config(&self, dcid: DeckConfID, fallback: bool) -> Result<Option<DeckConf>> {
+        let conf = self.storage.all_deck_conf()?;
+        if let Some(conf) = conf.get(&dcid) {
+            return Ok(Some(conf.clone()));
+        }
+        if fallback {
+            if let Some(conf) = conf.get(&DeckConfID(1)) {
+                return Ok(Some(conf.clone()));
+            }
+            // if even the default deck config is missing, just return the defaults
+            return Ok(Some(DeckConf::default()));
+        }
+        Ok(None)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn add_or_update_deck_config(&self, conf: &mut DeckConf) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut allconf = self.storage.all_deck_conf()?;
+        if conf.id.0 == 0 {
+            conf.id.0 = TimestampMillis::now().0;
+            loop {
+                if !allconf.contains_key(&conf.id) {
+                    break;
+                }
+                conf.id.0 += 1;
+            }
+        }
+        conf.mtime = TimestampSecs::now();
+        conf.usn = self.usn()?;
+        allconf.insert(conf.id, conf.clone());
+        self.storage.flush_deck_conf(&allconf)
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn remove_deck_config(&self, dcid: DeckConfID) -> Result<()> {
+        if dcid.0 == 1 {
+            return Err(AnkiError::invalid_input("can't delete default conf"));
+        }
+        self.ensure_schema_modified()?;
+        let mut allconf = self.storage.all_deck_conf()?;
+        allconf.remove(&dcid);
+        self.storage.flush_deck_conf(&allconf)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/decks.rs b/rslib/src/decks.rs
index 2511d5af1..1f1524418 100644
--- a/rslib/src/decks.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/decks.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ use serde_aux::field_attributes::deserialize_number_from_string;
 use serde_derive::Deserialize;
 
 define_newtype!(DeckID, i64);
-define_newtype!(DeckConfID, i64);
 
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 pub struct Deck {
diff --git a/rslib/src/err.rs b/rslib/src/err.rs
index 8208370d5..b1f2ab894 100644
--- a/rslib/src/err.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/err.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ pub enum AnkiError {
 
     #[fail(display = "Close the existing collection first.")]
     CollectionAlreadyOpen,
+
+    #[fail(display = "Operation modifies schema, but schema not marked modified.")]
+    SchemaChange,
 }
 
 // error helpers
diff --git a/rslib/src/lib.rs b/rslib/src/lib.rs
index aa2de288b..41056c4a2 100644
--- a/rslib/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ pub mod card;
 pub mod cloze;
 pub mod collection;
 pub mod config;
+pub mod deckconf;
 pub mod decks;
 pub mod err;
 pub mod i18n;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ pub mod notes;
 pub mod notetypes;
 pub mod sched;
 pub mod search;
+pub mod serde;
 pub mod storage;
 pub mod template;
 pub mod template_filters;
diff --git a/rslib/src/serde.rs b/rslib/src/serde.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..280302ae6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/serde.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+use serde::Deserialize as DeTrait;
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+pub(crate) fn default_on_invalid<'de, T, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<T, D::Error>
+where
+    T: Default + DeTrait<'de>,
+    D: serde::de::Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    let v: Value = DeTrait::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+    Ok(T::deserialize(v).unwrap_or_default())
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/deckconf.rs b/rslib/src/storage/deckconf.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dbe2a18b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/deckconf.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Copyright: Ankitects Pty Ltd and contributors
+// License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
+
+use super::SqliteStorage;
+use crate::{
+    deckconf::{DeckConf, DeckConfID},
+    err::{AnkiError, Result},
+};
+use rusqlite::{params, NO_PARAMS};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+impl SqliteStorage {
+    pub(crate) fn all_deck_conf(&self) -> Result<HashMap<DeckConfID, DeckConf>> {
+        self.db
+            .prepare_cached("select dconf from col")?
+            .query_and_then(NO_PARAMS, |row| -> Result<_> {
+                Ok(serde_json::from_str(row.get_raw(0).as_str()?)?)
+            })?
+            .next()
+            .ok_or_else(|| AnkiError::invalid_input("no col table"))?
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn flush_deck_conf(&self, conf: &HashMap<DeckConfID, DeckConf>) -> Result<()> {
+        self.db
+            .prepare_cached("update col set dconf = ?")?
+            .execute(params![&serde_json::to_string(conf)?])?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/mod.rs b/rslib/src/storage/mod.rs
index e66290ed5..b4549b14e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/storage/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 mod card;
+mod deckconf;
 mod sqlite;
 
 pub(crate) use sqlite::SqliteStorage;
diff --git a/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs b/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs
index 19ed14262..b784e819f 100644
--- a/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/storage/sqlite.rs
@@ -304,4 +304,11 @@ impl SqliteStorage {
             conf.rollover,
         ))
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn schema_modified(&self) -> Result<bool> {
+        self.db
+            .prepare_cached("select scm > ls from col")?
+            .query_row(NO_PARAMS, |row| row.get(0))
+            .map_err(Into::into)
+    }
 }