diff --git a/html/inc/boinc_db.inc b/html/inc/boinc_db.inc
index 1e42eb1b67..bf2d1710c4 100644
--- a/html/inc/boinc_db.inc
+++ b/html/inc/boinc_db.inc
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ class BoincDb extends DbConn {
         $db = self::get();
         return $db->base_error();
     }
+
+    // if your DB connection times out, call this, then call get() again
+    //
+    static function reset_connection() {
+        self::$instance = null;
+    }
 }
 
 class BoincUser {