diff --git a/conservancy/settings/prod.py b/conservancy/settings/prod.py
index c633ddab..513259c2 100644
--- a/conservancy/settings/prod.py
+++ b/conservancy/settings/prod.py
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ DATABASES = {
         'OPTIONS': {
             # Reduce the incidence of "database locked" errors by allowing write
             # requests to be queued for some seconds.
-            'timeout': 5,
+            'timeout': 10,
+            'init_command': 'PRAGMA journal_mode = WAL; PRAGMA synchronous = NORMAL',
+            # "transaction_mode": "IMMEDIATE",
         },
     }
 }