diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index b0658df7ca..40780051d1 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -9496,3 +9496,11 @@ David  18 Nov 2008
         gui_rpc_server.cpp
     html/ops/
         update_profile_pages.php
+
+David  18 Nov 2008
+    - back-end programs: set MySQL option to reconnect to server
+        if the connection goes away
+        (which it apparently does if idle for a while)
+
+    db/
+        db_base.cpp
diff --git a/db/db_base.cpp b/db/db_base.cpp
index fe327c2135..279cf14721 100644
--- a/db/db_base.cpp
+++ b/db/db_base.cpp
@@ -41,8 +41,20 @@ DB_CONN::DB_CONN() {
 int DB_CONN::open(char* db_name, char* db_host, char* db_user, char* dbpassword) {
     mysql = mysql_init(0);
     if (!mysql) return ERR_DB_CANT_INIT;
+#if MYSQL_VERSION_ID >= 50106
+    my_bool mbReconnect = 1;
+    mysql_options(mysql, MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT, &mbReconnect);
+#endif
     mysql = mysql_real_connect(mysql, db_host, db_user, dbpassword, db_name, 0, 0, 0);
     if (mysql == 0) return ERR_DB_CANT_CONNECT;
+
+    // older versions of MySQL lib need to set the option AFTER connecting;
+    // see http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/mysql-options.html
+    //
+#if MYSQL_VERSION_ID >= 50013 && MYSQL_VERSION_ID < 50106
+    my_bool mbReconnect = 1;
+    mysql_options(mysql, MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT, &mbReconnect);
+#endif
     return 0;
 }