diff --git a/modules/setting/database.go b/modules/setting/database.go
index 91b3c90747..bd20edf9c2 100644
--- a/modules/setting/database.go
+++ b/modules/setting/database.go
@@ -239,12 +239,19 @@ func dbConnStrWithHost(host string) (string, error) {
 		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(Database.Path), os.ModePerm); err != nil {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to create directories: %w", err)
 		}
-		journalMode := ""
+		opts := ""
 		if Database.SQLiteJournalMode != "" {
-			journalMode = "&_journal_mode=" + Database.SQLiteJournalMode
+			opts = "&_journal_mode=" + Database.SQLiteJournalMode
 		}
-		connStr = fmt.Sprintf("file:%s?cache=shared&mode=rwc&_busy_timeout=%d&_txlock=immediate%s",
-			Database.Path, Database.Timeout, journalMode)
+
+		// in memory mode needs shared cache to be usable by multiple connections
+		// only used in tests normally
+		if Database.Path == ":memory:" {
+			opts += "&cache=shared"
+		} else {
+			opts += "&mode=rwc"
+		}
+		connStr = fmt.Sprintf("file:%s?_busy_timeout=%d&_txlock=immediate%s", Database.Path, Database.Timeout, opts)
 	default:
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("unknown database type: %s", Database.Type)
 	}
diff --git a/tests/integration/migration-test/migration_test.go b/tests/integration/migration-test/migration_test.go
index 2bc57142e2..58d525a8f7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/migration-test/migration_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/migration-test/migration_test.go
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ func restoreOldDB(t *testing.T, version string) bool {
 		err := os.MkdirAll(path.Dir(setting.Database.Path), os.ModePerm)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", fmt.Sprintf("file:%s?cache=shared&mode=rwc&_busy_timeout=%d&_txlock=immediate", setting.Database.Path, setting.Database.Timeout))
+		db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", fmt.Sprintf("file:%s?mode=rwc&_busy_timeout=%d&_txlock=immediate", setting.Database.Path, setting.Database.Timeout))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		defer db.Close()