diff --git a/racket/collects/setup/doc-db.rkt b/racket/collects/setup/doc-db.rkt
index 223ea053a9..46ae125f67 100644
--- a/racket/collects/setup/doc-db.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/setup/doc-db.rkt
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@
 (define (doc-db-available?)
   (sqlite3-available?))
 
-(define (doc-db-file->connection db-file)
+(define (doc-db-file->connection db-file [write? #f])
   (define exists? (file-exists? db-file))
   (define db (sqlite3-connect #:database db-file 
-                              #:mode 'create
+                              #:mode (if write? 'create 'read-only)
                               #:busy-retry-limit 0))
   (unless exists?
     (call-with-retry/transaction
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
                             #:teardown [teardown void])
   (define db (if (connection? db-file)
                  db-file
-                 (doc-db-file->connection db-file)))
+                 (doc-db-file->connection db-file write?)))
   (setup db)
   (begin0
    (call-with-retry/transaction
@@ -155,8 +155,7 @@
    'doc-db-get-provides-timestamp
    db-file
    (lambda (db)
-     (prepare-tables db)
-     (define pathid (filename->pathid db filename))
+     (define pathid (filename->pathid db filename #f))
      (define row
        (query-maybe-row db (~a "SELECT seconds FROM timestamps"
                                " WHERE pathid=$1")
@@ -272,7 +271,7 @@
    #:setup (maybe-attach attach-db-path)
    #:teardown (maybe-detach attach-db-path)
    (lambda (db)
-     (define pathid (filename->pathid db filename))
+     (define pathid (filename->pathid db filename #f))
      ;; Items with no `searches' entries:
      (define rows
        (query-rows db (~a "SELECT P.stag "
@@ -335,7 +334,7 @@
    #:setup (maybe-attach attach-db-path)
    #:teardown (maybe-detach attach-db-path)
    (lambda (db)
-     (define pathid (filename->pathid db filename))
+     (define pathid (filename->pathid db filename #f))
      (define ((rows->paths in-other?) rows)
        (for/list ([row (in-list rows)])
          (pathid->filename db (vector-ref row 0) in-other? main-doc-relative-ok?)))
@@ -397,7 +396,7 @@
                      pathid))))))
          
 
-(define (filename->pathid db filename)
+(define (filename->pathid db filename [write? #t])
   (define filename* (path->main-doc-relative filename))
   (define filename-bytes (cond
                           [(pair? filename*)
@@ -412,10 +411,13 @@
   (cond
    [(not id)
     (define num (vector-ref (query-row db "SELECT COUNT(pathid) FROM pathids") 0))
-    (query-exec db "INSERT INTO pathids VALUES ($1, $2, $3)"
-                (add1 num)
-                (if (pair? filename*) "y" "n")
-                filename-bytes)
+    (when write?
+      (query-exec db "INSERT INTO pathids VALUES ($1, $2, $3)"
+                  (add1 num)
+                  (if (pair? filename*) "y" "n")
+                  filename-bytes))
+    ;; If we can't write, then this result is bogus, but it should lead
+    ;; to empty query results in a transaction:
     (add1 num)]
    [else (vector-ref id 0)]))