diff --git a/datasette/database.py b/datasette/database.py
index cb01301eee..ef516e9ed9 100644
--- a/datasette/database.py
+++ b/datasette/database.py
@@ -159,6 +159,22 @@ def count_params(params):
             kwargs["count"] = count
         return results
 
+    async def execute_isolated_fn(self, fn):
+        # Open a new connection just for the duration of this function
+        # blocking the write queue to avoid any writes occurring during it
+        if self.ds.executor is None:
+            # non-threaded mode
+            isolated_connection = self.connect(write=True)
+            try:
+                result = fn(isolated_connection)
+            finally:
+                isolated_connection.close()
+                self._all_file_connections.remove(isolated_connection)
+            return result
+        else:
+            # Threaded mode - send to write thread
+            return await self._send_to_write_thread(fn, isolated_connection=True)
+
     async def execute_write_fn(self, fn, block=True):
         if self.ds.executor is None:
             # non-threaded mode
@@ -166,9 +182,10 @@ async def execute_write_fn(self, fn, block=True):
                 self._write_connection = self.connect(write=True)
                 self.ds._prepare_connection(self._write_connection, self.name)
             return fn(self._write_connection)
+        else:
+            return await self._send_to_write_thread(fn, block)
 
-        # threaded mode
-        task_id = uuid.uuid5(uuid.NAMESPACE_DNS, "datasette.io")
+    async def _send_to_write_thread(self, fn, block=True, isolated_connection=False):
         if self._write_queue is None:
             self._write_queue = queue.Queue()
         if self._write_thread is None:
@@ -176,8 +193,9 @@ async def execute_write_fn(self, fn, block=True):
                 target=self._execute_writes, daemon=True
             )
             self._write_thread.start()
+        task_id = uuid.uuid5(uuid.NAMESPACE_DNS, "datasette.io")
         reply_queue = janus.Queue()
-        self._write_queue.put(WriteTask(fn, task_id, reply_queue))
+        self._write_queue.put(WriteTask(fn, task_id, reply_queue, isolated_connection))
         if block:
             result = await reply_queue.async_q.get()
             if isinstance(result, Exception):
@@ -202,12 +220,24 @@ def _execute_writes(self):
             if conn_exception is not None:
                 result = conn_exception
             else:
-                try:
-                    result = task.fn(conn)
-                except Exception as e:
-                    sys.stderr.write("{}\n".format(e))
-                    sys.stderr.flush()
-                    result = e
+                if task.isolated_connection:
+                    isolated_connection = self.connect(write=True)
+                    try:
+                        result = task.fn(isolated_connection)
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        sys.stderr.write("{}\n".format(e))
+                        sys.stderr.flush()
+                        result = e
+                    finally:
+                        isolated_connection.close()
+                        self._all_file_connections.remove(isolated_connection)
+                else:
+                    try:
+                        result = task.fn(conn)
+                    except Exception as e:
+                        sys.stderr.write("{}\n".format(e))
+                        sys.stderr.flush()
+                        result = e
             task.reply_queue.sync_q.put(result)
 
     async def execute_fn(self, fn):
@@ -515,12 +545,13 @@ def __repr__(self):
 
 
 class WriteTask:
-    __slots__ = ("fn", "task_id", "reply_queue")
+    __slots__ = ("fn", "task_id", "reply_queue", "isolated_connection")
 
-    def __init__(self, fn, task_id, reply_queue):
+    def __init__(self, fn, task_id, reply_queue, isolated_connection):
         self.fn = fn
         self.task_id = task_id
         self.reply_queue = reply_queue
+        self.isolated_connection = isolated_connection
 
 
 class QueryInterrupted(Exception):