diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index dd73827af..0f95c1c5d 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ def run(args):
     standarddir.init(args)
 
     if args.version:
+        # we need to init sql to print the sql version
+        # we can use an in-memory database as we just want to query the version
+        sql.init('')
         print(version.version())
         sys.exit(usertypes.Exit.ok)
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/version.py b/qutebrowser/utils/version.py
index faa890152..a408ce1fd 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/version.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/version.py
@@ -326,11 +326,7 @@ def version():
     lines += _module_versions()
 
     lines += ['pdf.js: {}'.format(_pdfjs_version())]
-
-    # we can use an in-memory database as we just want to query the version
-    sql.init('')
     lines += ['sqlite: {}'.format(sql.version())]
-    sql.close()
 
     lines += [
         'SSL: {}'.format(QSslSocket.sslLibraryVersionString()),
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
index 279df7808..f6c5ce84a 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
@@ -702,3 +702,11 @@ Feature: Various utility commands.
         And I wait for "Renderer process was killed" in the log
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt
         Then no crash should happen
+        And the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
+
+    ## Other
+
+    Scenario: Open qute://version
+        When I open qute://version
+        Then the page should contain the plaintext "Version info"
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_version.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_version.py
index 8c0f16081..c0c731f88 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_version.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_version.py
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ def test_chromium_version_unpatched(qapp):
     (True, False, True, True, False),  # unknown Linux distribution
 ])
 def test_version_output(git_commit, frozen, style, with_webkit,
-                        known_distribution, stubs, monkeypatch):
+                        known_distribution, stubs, monkeypatch, init_sql):
     """Test version.version()."""
     class FakeWebEngineProfile:
         def httpUserAgent(self):