diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index 677f79a7b..46c7578bd 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ def run(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(':memory:')
         print(version.version())
         sys.exit(usertypes.Exit.ok)
 
@@ -429,7 +428,12 @@ def _init_modules(args, crash_handler):
     keyconf.init(qApp)
 
     log.init.debug("Initializing sql...")
-    sql.init(os.path.join(standarddir.data(), 'history.sqlite'))
+    try:
+        sql.init(os.path.join(standarddir.data(), 'history.sqlite'))
+    except sql.SqlException as e:
+        error.handle_fatal_exc(e, args, 'Is sqlite installed?',
+                               pre_text='Failed to initialize SQL')
+        sys.exit(usertypes.Exit.err_init)
 
     log.init.debug("Initializing web history...")
     history.init(qApp)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/earlyinit.py b/qutebrowser/misc/earlyinit.py
index 68f5db71e..fb09b4ab2 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/earlyinit.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/earlyinit.py
@@ -396,12 +396,6 @@ def check_optimize_flag():
                          "unexpected behavior may occur.")
 
 
-def check_sqlite():
-    from PyQt5.QtSql import QSqlDatabase
-    if not QSqlDatabase.isDriverAvailable('QSQLITE'):
-        _die('sqlite driver not available! Is sqlite installed?')
-
-
 def set_backend(backend):
     """Set the objects.backend global to the given backend (as string)."""
     from qutebrowser.misc import objects
@@ -441,5 +435,4 @@ def earlyinit(args):
     check_libraries(backend)
     check_ssl_support(backend)
     check_optimize_flag()
-    check_sqlite()
     set_backend(backend)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/misc/sql.py b/qutebrowser/misc/sql.py
index 35c5359dd..4ae37f01f 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/misc/sql.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/misc/sql.py
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ class SqlException(Exception):
 def init(db_path):
     """Initialize the SQL database connection."""
     database = QSqlDatabase.addDatabase('QSQLITE')
+    if not database.isValid():
+        raise SqlException('Failed to add database. Is sqlite installed?')
     database.setDatabaseName(db_path)
     if not database.open():
         raise SqlException("Failed to open sqlite database at {}: {}"
@@ -50,9 +52,15 @@ def close():
 
 def version():
     """Return the sqlite version string."""
-    q = Query("select sqlite_version()")
-    q.run()
-    return q.value()
+    try:
+        if not QSqlDatabase.database().isOpen():
+            init(':memory:')
+            ver = Query("select sqlite_version()").run().value()
+            close()
+            return ver
+        return Query("select sqlite_version()").run().value()
+    except SqlException as e:
+        return 'UNAVAILABLE ({})'.format(e)
 
 
 class Query(QSqlQuery):