diff --git a/ixmp4/data/backend/db.py b/ixmp4/data/backend/db.py
index 70ad8799..194958ad 100644
--- a/ixmp4/data/backend/db.py
+++ b/ixmp4/data/backend/db.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 
 @lru_cache()
 def cached_create_engine(dsn: str) -> Engine:
-    return create_engine(dsn)
+    return create_engine(dsn, pool_pre_ping=True)
 
 
 class IamcSubobject(BaseIamcSubobject):