diff --git a/src/common/PatchDB.cpp b/src/common/PatchDB.cpp
index 7146f858089..316b6083c99 100644
--- a/src/common/PatchDB.cpp
+++ b/src/common/PatchDB.cpp
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ struct TxnGuard
 
 struct PatchDB::WriterWorker
 {
-    static constexpr const char *schema_version = "9"; // I will rebuild if this is not my verion
+    static constexpr const char *schema_version = "10"; // I will rebuild if this is not my verion
 
     /*
      * Obviously a lot of thought needs to go into this
@@ -320,11 +320,10 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Favorites (
 
     void openDb()
     {
-        std::cout << "--OPEN" << std::endl;
+        std::cout << ">>> Opening r/w DB" << std::endl;
         auto flag = SQLITE_OPEN_NOMUTEX; // basically lock
         flag |= SQLITE_OPEN_READWRITE | SQLITE_OPEN_CREATE;
 
-        std::cout << "\nPatchDB : Opening sqlitedb " << dbname << std::endl;
         auto ec = sqlite3_open_v2(dbname.c_str(), &dbh, flag, nullptr);
 
         if (ec != SQLITE_OK)
@@ -340,7 +339,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Favorites (
 
     void closeDb()
     {
-        std::cout << "--CLOSE" << std::endl;
+        std::cout << "<<<< Closing r/w DB" << std::endl;
         if (dbh)
             sqlite3_close(dbh);
         dbh = nullptr;
@@ -361,8 +360,11 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Favorites (
         void go(WriterWorker &w) { w.setupDatabase(); }
     };
 
+    std::atomic<bool> hasSetup{false};
     void setupDatabase()
     {
+        std::cout << "PatchDB : Setup Database " << dbname << std::endl;
+        hasSetup = true;
         /*
          * OK check my version
          */
@@ -424,9 +426,16 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Favorites (
             return;
         // We know this is called in the lock so can manipulate pathQ properly
         haveOpenedForWriteOnce = true;
-        std::cout << "CREATING THREAD " << std::endl;
         qThread = std::thread([this]() { this->loadQueueFunction(); });
-        pathQ.push_back(new EnQSetup());
+
+        {
+            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> g(qLock);
+            pathQ.push_back(new EnQSetup());
+        }
+        qCV.notify_all();
+        while (!hasSetup)
+        {
+        }
     }
 
     ~WriterWorker()
@@ -899,7 +908,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Favorites (
     {
         {
             std::lock_guard<std::mutex> g(qLock);
-            openForWrite();
 
             pathQ.push_back(p);
         }
@@ -913,6 +921,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Favorites (
             auto flag = SQLITE_OPEN_NOMUTEX; // basically lock
             flag |= SQLITE_OPEN_READONLY;
 
+            std::cout << ">>>RO> Opening r/o DB" << std::endl;
             auto ec = sqlite3_open_v2(dbname.c_str(), &rodbh, flag, nullptr);
 
             if (ec != SQLITE_OK)
@@ -940,6 +949,7 @@ PatchDB::PatchDB(SurgeStorage *s) : storage(s) { initialize(); }
 PatchDB::~PatchDB() = default;
 
 void PatchDB::initialize() { worker = std::make_unique<WriterWorker>(storage); }
+void PatchDB::prepareForWrites() { worker->openForWrite(); }
 
 void PatchDB::considerFXPForLoad(const fs::path &fxp, const std::string &name,
                                  const std::string &catName, const CatType type) const
@@ -1066,7 +1076,14 @@ std::vector<PatchDB::patchRecord> PatchDB::rawQueryForNameLike(const std::string
     }
     catch (SQL::Exception &e)
     {
-        storage->reportError(e.what(), "PatchDB - rawQueryForNameLike");
+        if (e.rc == SQLITE_BUSY)
+        {
+            // Oh well
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            storage->reportError(e.what(), "PatchDB - rawQueryForNameLike");
+        }
     }
 
     return res;
@@ -1134,8 +1151,9 @@ std::vector<PatchDB::catRecord> PatchDB::internalCategories(int t, const std::st
     return res;
 }
 
-void PatchDB::isUserFavorite(const std::string &path, bool isIt)
+void PatchDB::setUserFavorite(const std::string &path, bool isIt)
 {
+    prepareForWrites();
     worker->enqueueWorkItem(new WriterWorker::EnQFavorite(path, isIt));
 }
 std::vector<std::string> PatchDB::readUserFavorites()
@@ -1146,6 +1164,18 @@ std::vector<std::string> PatchDB::readUserFavorites()
     try
     {
         auto res = std::vector<std::string>();
+        auto hasFav = SQL::Statement(
+            conn, "SELECT count(*) from sqlite_master where tbl_name = \"Favorites\"");
+        int favCt = 0;
+        while (hasFav.step())
+        {
+            favCt = hasFav.col_int(0);
+        }
+        hasFav.finalize();
+
+        if (favCt == 0)
+            return std::vector<std::string>();
+
         auto st = SQL::Statement(conn, "select path from Favorites;");
         while (st.step())
         {
@@ -1156,10 +1186,17 @@ std::vector<std::string> PatchDB::readUserFavorites()
     }
     catch (SQL::Exception &e)
     {
+        // This error really doesn't matter most of the time
         storage->reportError(e.what(), "PatchDB - Loading Favorites");
     }
     return std::vector<std::string>();
 }
 
+int PatchDB::numberOfJobsOutstanding()
+{
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(worker->qLock);
+    return worker->pathQ.size();
+}
+
 } // namespace PatchStorage
 } // namespace Surge
diff --git a/src/common/PatchDB.h b/src/common/PatchDB.h
index 2d9d9573f7d..70d2f0593d7 100644
--- a/src/common/PatchDB.h
+++ b/src/common/PatchDB.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ struct PatchDB
     ~PatchDB();
 
     void initialize();
+    void prepareForWrites();
 
     SurgeStorage *storage;
 
@@ -78,8 +79,9 @@ struct PatchDB
     void addRootCategory(const std::string &name, CatType type);
     void addSubCategory(const std::string &name, const std::string &parent, CatType type);
     void addDebugMessage(const std::string &debug);
+    void setUserFavorite(const std::string &path, bool isIt);
 
-    void isUserFavorite(const std::string &path, bool isIt);
+    int numberOfJobsOutstanding();
 
     // Query APIs
     std::vector<std::pair<std::string, int>> readAllFeatures();
diff --git a/src/common/SurgeStorage.cpp b/src/common/SurgeStorage.cpp
index d555784b342..d14df0e5710 100644
--- a/src/common/SurgeStorage.cpp
+++ b/src/common/SurgeStorage.cpp
@@ -716,6 +716,7 @@ void SurgeStorage::initializePatchDb()
         return;
 
     patchDBInitialized = true;
+    patchDB->prepareForWrites();
 
     auto catToType = [this](int q) {
         auto t = Surge::PatchStorage::PatchDB::CatType::FACTORY;
diff --git a/src/surge-xt/gui/SurgeGUIEditor.cpp b/src/surge-xt/gui/SurgeGUIEditor.cpp
index d786530b793..8d284019801 100644
--- a/src/surge-xt/gui/SurgeGUIEditor.cpp
+++ b/src/surge-xt/gui/SurgeGUIEditor.cpp
@@ -5398,7 +5398,7 @@ void SurgeGUIEditor::setPatchAsFavorite(bool b)
     if (synth->patchid >= 0 && synth->patchid < synth->storage.patch_list.size())
     {
         synth->storage.patch_list[synth->patchid].isFavorite = b;
-        synth->storage.patchDB->isUserFavorite(
+        synth->storage.patchDB->setUserFavorite(
             synth->storage.patch_list[synth->patchid].path.u8string(), b);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.cpp b/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.cpp
index 6af400726dd..0da3a14bb5a 100644
--- a/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.cpp
+++ b/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "PatchDB.h"
 #include "SurgeGUIEditor.h"
 #include "RuntimeFont.h"
+#include "fmt/core.h"
 
 namespace Surge
 {
@@ -342,7 +343,14 @@ PatchDBViewer::PatchDBViewer(SurgeGUIEditor *e, SurgeStorage *s)
     storage->initializePatchDb();
     createElements();
 }
-PatchDBViewer::~PatchDBViewer() { treeView->setRootItem(nullptr); };
+PatchDBViewer::~PatchDBViewer()
+{
+    treeView->setRootItem(nullptr);
+    if (countdownClock)
+    {
+        countdownClock->stopTimer();
+    }
+};
 
 void PatchDBViewer::createElements()
 {
@@ -383,9 +391,61 @@ void PatchDBViewer::createElements()
     filters = std::make_unique<PatchDBFiltersDisplay>();
     addAndMakeVisible(*filters);
 
-    executeQuery();
+    jobCountdown = std::make_unique<juce::Label>();
+    jobCountdown->setText("COUNTDOWN", juce::NotificationType::dontSendNotification);
+    jobCountdown->setColour(juce::Label::backgroundColourId,
+                            juce::Colour(0xFF, 0x90, 0).withAlpha(0.4f));
+    jobCountdown->setJustificationType(juce::Justification::centred);
+    jobCountdown->setFont(Surge::GUI::getFontManager()->getFiraMonoAtSize(36));
+    addChildComponent(*jobCountdown);
+
+    if (storage->patchDB->numberOfJobsOutstanding() > 0)
+    {
+        checkJobsOverlay();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        executeQuery();
+    }
 }
 
+struct CountdownTimer : public juce::Timer
+{
+    CountdownTimer(PatchDBViewer *d) : v(d) {}
+    PatchDBViewer *v{nullptr};
+    void timerCallback() override
+    {
+        if (v)
+            v->checkJobsOverlay();
+    }
+};
+void PatchDBViewer::checkJobsOverlay()
+{
+    auto jo = storage->patchDB->numberOfJobsOutstanding();
+    if (jo == 0)
+    {
+        jobCountdown->setVisible(false);
+        executeQuery();
+        if (countdownClock)
+        {
+            countdownClock->stopTimer();
+        }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        jobCountdown->setText(fmt::format("Jobs Outstanding : {:d}", jo),
+                              juce::NotificationType::dontSendNotification);
+        jobCountdown->setVisible(true);
+        if (!countdownClock)
+        {
+            countdownClock = std::make_unique<CountdownTimer>(this);
+        }
+        if (!countdownClock->isTimerRunning())
+        {
+            countdownClock->startTimerHz(30);
+        }
+    }
+}
 void PatchDBViewer::executeQuery()
 {
     tableModel->executeQuery(nameTypein->getText().toStdString());
@@ -396,6 +456,9 @@ void PatchDBViewer::textEditorTextChanged(juce::TextEditor &editor) { executeQue
 void PatchDBViewer::paint(juce::Graphics &g) { g.fillAll(juce::Colours::black); }
 void PatchDBViewer::resized()
 {
+    if (jobCountdown)
+        jobCountdown->setBounds(getLocalBounds());
+
     if (nameTypein)
         nameTypein->setBounds(10, 10, 400, 30);
 
diff --git a/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.h b/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.h
index b8b77d989f9..92361cf1555 100644
--- a/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.h
+++ b/src/surge-xt/gui/overlays/PatchDBViewer.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class PatchDBViewer : public OverlayComponent,
     ~PatchDBViewer();
     void createElements();
     void executeQuery();
+    void checkJobsOverlay();
 
     void paint(juce::Graphics &g) override;
 
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ class PatchDBViewer : public OverlayComponent,
     std::unique_ptr<juce::Button> doDebug;
     void buttonClicked(juce::Button *button) override;
 
+    std::unique_ptr<juce::Label> jobCountdown;
+    std::unique_ptr<juce::Timer> countdownClock;
+
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR(PatchDBViewer);
 };