diff --git a/internal/db/db.go b/internal/db/db.go
index 4a37159..d30153f 100644
--- a/internal/db/db.go
+++ b/internal/db/db.go
@@ -43,10 +43,6 @@ func OpenTelemDb(path string, options ...TelemDbOption) (tdb *TelemDb, err error
 		}
 	}
 
-	// execute database up statement (better hope it is idempotent!)
-	// FIXME: only do this when it's a new database (instead warn the user about potential version mismatches)
-	// TODO: store gotelem version (commit hash?) in DB (PRAGMA user_version)
-
 	var version int
 	err = tdb.db.Get(&version, "PRAGMA user_version")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -56,66 +52,23 @@ func OpenTelemDb(path string, options ...TelemDbOption) (tdb *TelemDb, err error
 	// get latest version of migrations - then run the SQL in order.
 	fmt.Printf("starting version %d\n", version)
 
-	version, err = RunMigrations(version, tdb)
+	version, err = RunMigrations(tdb)
 	fmt.Printf("ending version %d\n", version)
 
 	return tdb, err
 }
 
-// the sql commands to create the database.
-const sqlDbUp = `
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS "bus_events" (
-	"ts"	INTEGER NOT NULL, -- timestamp, unix milliseconds
-	"id"	INTEGER NOT NULL, -- can ID
-	"name"	TEXT NOT NULL, -- name of base packet
-	"data"	TEXT NOT NULL CHECK(json_valid(data)) -- JSON object describing the data, including index if any
-);
+func (tdb *TelemDb) GetVersion() (int, error) {
+	var version int
+	err := tdb.db.Get(&version, "PRAGMA user_version")
+	return version, err
+}
 
-CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "ids_timestamped" ON "bus_events" (
-	"id",
-	"ts"	DESC
-);
-
-CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "times" ON "bus_events" (
-	"ts" DESC
-);
-
--- this table shows when we started/stopped logging.
-CREATE TABLE "drive_records" (
-	"id"	INTEGER NOT NULL UNIQUE, -- unique ID of the drive.
-	"start_time"	INTEGER NOT NULL, -- when the drive started
-	"end_time"	INTEGER, -- when it ended, or NULL if it's ongoing.
-	"note"	TEXT, -- optional description of the segment/experiment/drive
-	PRIMARY KEY("id" AUTOINCREMENT),
-	CONSTRAINT "duration_valid" CHECK(end_time is null or start_time < end_time)
-);
- 
-
-
--- gps logs TODO: use GEOJSON/Spatialite tracks instead?
-CREATE TABLE "position_logs" (
-	"ts"	INTEGER NOT NULL,
-	"source"	TEXT NOT NULL,
-	"lat"	REAL NOT NULL,
-	"lon"	REAL NOT NULL,
-	"elevation"	REAL,
-	CONSTRAINT "no_empty_source" CHECK(source is not "")
-);
-
--- TODO: ensure only one "active" (end_time == null) drive record at a time using triggers/constraints/index
-`
-
-// sql sequence to tear down the database.
-// not used often, but good to keep track of what's going on.
-// Up() then Down() should result in an empty database.
-const sqlDbDown = `
-DROP TABLE "bus_events";
-DROP INDEX "ids_timestamped";
-DROP INDEX "times";
-
-DROP TABLE "drive_records";
-DROP TABLE "position_logs";
-`
+func (tdb *TelemDb) SetVersion(version int) error {
+	stmt := fmt.Sprintf("PRAGMA user_version %d", version)
+	_, err := tdb.db.Exec(stmt)
+	return err
+}
 
 // sql expression to insert a bus event into the packets database.1
 const sqlInsertEvent = `
diff --git a/internal/db/migration.go b/internal/db/migration.go
index 1f1a31a..b81e924 100644
--- a/internal/db/migration.go
+++ b/internal/db/migration.go
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ type Migration struct {
 	FileName string
 }
 
+type MigrationError struct {
+}
+
 // getMigrations returns a list of migrations, which are correctly index. zero is nil.
 func getMigrations(files fs.FS) map[int]map[string]Migration {
 
@@ -60,8 +63,12 @@ func getMigrations(files fs.FS) map[int]map[string]Migration {
 	return res
 }
 
-// use len to get the highest number migration.
-func RunMigrations(currentVer int, tdb *TelemDb) (finalVer int, err error) {
+func RunMigrations(tdb *TelemDb) (finalVer int, err error) {
+
+	currentVer, err := tdb.GetVersion()
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
 
 	migrations := getMigrations(migrationsFs)
 
@@ -122,10 +129,12 @@ func RunMigrations(currentVer int, tdb *TelemDb) (finalVer int, err error) {
 		}
 
 	}
+	// if all the versions applied correctly, update the PRAGMA user_version in the database.
 	tx.Commit()
+	err = tdb.SetVersion(finalVer)
 
 	return
-
+	// yeah, we use goto. Deal with it.
 rollback:
 	tx.Rollback()
 	return
diff --git a/internal/db/migration_test.go b/internal/db/migration_test.go
index 1909c02..cfd935f 100644
--- a/internal/db/migration_test.go
+++ b/internal/db/migration_test.go
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@ func Test_getMigrations(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestRunMigrations(t *testing.T) {
 	type args struct {
-		currentVer int
-		tdb        *TelemDb
+		tdb *TelemDb
 	}
 	tests := []struct {
 		name         string
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ func TestRunMigrations(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			gotFinalVer, err := RunMigrations(tt.args.currentVer, tt.args.tdb)
+			gotFinalVer, err := RunMigrations(tt.args.tdb)
 			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
 				t.Errorf("RunMigrations() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
 				return