diff --git a/racket/collects/db/private/generic/ffi-common.rkt b/racket/collects/db/private/generic/ffi-common.rkt
index bf38c7bae3..5b4ba0411e 100644
--- a/racket/collects/db/private/generic/ffi-common.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/db/private/generic/ffi-common.rkt
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
              (end-atomic)]
             [else
              (end-atomic)
-             (error)])
+             (error/disconnect-in-lock 'sqlite3)])
       (sync os-resp-chan))
 
     ;; sync-call : (DB/#f -> X) -> X