diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
index 5b88a609..6b9c4bf5 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/runnable/daemons/tasker.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ logg.debug('config loaded from {}:\n{}'.format(args.c, config))
 
 # connect to database
 dsn = dsn_from_config(config)
-SessionBase.connect(dsn, pool)
+SessionBase.connect(dsn, pool_size=8, debug=config.true('DATABASE_DEBUG'))
 
 # verify database connection with minimal sanity query
 session = SessionBase.create_session()
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/backend.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/backend.py
index eaf3ddc6..56f08f30 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/backend.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/backend.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class SyncerBackend:
         if self.db_object == None:
             self.disconnect()
             raise ValueError('sync entry with id {} not found'.format(self.object_id))
+        return self.db_session
 
 
     def disconnect(self):
diff --git a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/mined.py b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/mined.py
index e0e165b6..4481bb2a 100644
--- a/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/mined.py
+++ b/apps/cic-eth/cic_eth/sync/mined.py
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ class MinedSyncer(Syncer):
             # TODO: ensure filter loop can complete on graceful shutdown
             for f in self.filter:
                 #try:
-                task_uuid = f(w3, tx, rcpt, self.chain(), self.db_session)
+                session = self.bc_cache.connect()
+                task_uuid = f(w3, tx, rcpt, self.chain(), session)
                 #except Exception as e:
                 #    logg.error('error in filter {} tx {}: {}'.format(f, tx_hash_hex, e))
                 #    continue
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index bbc861cb..7b6cbc07 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ services:
       DATABASE_PORT: ${DATABASE_PORT:-5432}
       DATABASE_ENGINE: ${DATABASE_ENGINE:-postgres}
       DATABASE_DRIVER: ${DATABASE_DRIVER:-psycopg2}
+      DATABASE_DEBUG: ${DATABASE_DEBUG:-0}
       PGPASSWORD: ${DATABASE_PASSWORD:-tralala}
       CIC_CHAIN_SPEC: ${CIC_CHAIN_SPEC:-Bloxberg:8996}
       BANCOR_DIR: ${BANCOR_DIR:-/usr/local/share/cic/bancor}
@@ -252,6 +253,8 @@ services:
       DATABASE_PORT: ${DATABASE_PORT:-5432}
       DATABASE_ENGINE: ${DATABASE_ENGINE:-postgres}
       DATABASE_DRIVER: ${DATABASE_DRIVER:-psycopg2}
+        #DATABASE_DEBUG: ${DATABASE_DEBUG:-0}
+      DATABASE_DEBUG: 1
       CIC_CHAIN_SPEC: ${CIC_CHAIN_SPEC:-Bloxberg:8996}
       CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS: $CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS
         #BANCOR_DIR: $BANCOR_DIR
@@ -288,6 +291,7 @@ services:
       DATABASE_PORT: ${DATABASE_PORT:-5432}
       DATABASE_ENGINE: ${DATABASE_ENGINE:-postgres}
       DATABASE_DRIVER: ${DATABASE_DRIVER:-psycopg2}
+      DATABASE_DEBUG: ${DATABASE_DEBUG:-0}
       CIC_CHAIN_SPEC: ${CIC_CHAIN_SPEC:-Bloxberg:8996}
       CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS: $CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS
         #BANCOR_DIR: $BANCOR_DIR
@@ -324,6 +328,7 @@ services:
       DATABASE_PORT: ${DATABASE_PORT:-5432}
       DATABASE_ENGINE: ${DATABASE_ENGINE:-postgres}
       DATABASE_DRIVER: ${DATABASE_DRIVER:-psycopg2}
+      DATABASE_DEBUG: ${DATABASE_DEBUG:-0}
       CIC_CHAIN_SPEC: ${CIC_CHAIN_SPEC:-Bloxberg:8996}
       CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS: $CIC_REGISTRY_ADDRESS
         #BANCOR_DIR: $BANCOR_DIR