diff --git a/DamusNotificationService/NotificationFormatter.swift b/DamusNotificationService/NotificationFormatter.swift
index 8c9bec54..615eaacc 100644
--- a/DamusNotificationService/NotificationFormatter.swift
+++ b/DamusNotificationService/NotificationFormatter.swift
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ struct NotificationFormatter {
         let src = zap.request.ev
         let pk = zap.is_anon ? ANON_PUBKEY : src.pubkey
 
-        let name = profiles.lookup(id: pk).map { profile in
-            Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pk).displayName.truncate(maxLength: 50)
-        }.value
+        let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: pk)
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let name = Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pk).displayName.truncate(maxLength: 50)
 
         let sats = NSNumber(value: (Double(zap.invoice.amount) / 1000.0))
         let formattedSats = format_msats_abbrev(zap.invoice.amount)
diff --git a/DamusNotificationService/NotificationService.swift b/DamusNotificationService/NotificationService.swift
index 352fd1b6..4d3e8c46 100644
--- a/DamusNotificationService/NotificationService.swift
+++ b/DamusNotificationService/NotificationService.swift
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class NotificationService: UNNotificationServiceExtension {
         Log.debug("Got nostr event push notification from pubkey %s", for: .push_notifications, nostr_event.pubkey.hex())
         
         guard let state = NotificationExtensionState(),
-              let display_name = state.ndb.lookup_profile(nostr_event.pubkey).unsafeUnownedValue?.profile?.display_name  // We are not holding the txn here.
+              let display_name = state.ndb.lookup_profile(nostr_event.pubkey)?.unsafeUnownedValue?.profile?.display_name  // We are not holding the txn here.
         else {
             // Something failed to initialize so let's go for the next best thing
             guard let improved_content = NotificationFormatter.shared.format_message(event: nostr_event) else {
diff --git a/damus/Components/NIP05Badge.swift b/damus/Components/NIP05Badge.swift
index db7956af..9d8d9280 100644
--- a/damus/Components/NIP05Badge.swift
+++ b/damus/Components/NIP05Badge.swift
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ struct NIP05Badge: View {
     }
 
     var username_matches_nip05: Bool {
-        guard let name = profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map({ p in p?.name }).value
+        guard let name = profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)?.map({ p in p?.name }).value
         else {
             return false
         }
diff --git a/damus/ContentView.swift b/damus/ContentView.swift
index 98a5f1bf..e7e0a61c 100644
--- a/damus/ContentView.swift
+++ b/damus/ContentView.swift
@@ -370,14 +370,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             // wallet with an associated
             guard let ds = self.damus_state,
                   let lud16 = nwc.lud16,
-                  let keypair = ds.keypair.to_full()
-            else {
-                return
-            }
-
-            let profile_txn = ds.profiles.lookup(id: ds.pubkey)
-
-            guard let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
+                  let keypair = ds.keypair.to_full(),
+                  let profile_txn = ds.profiles.lookup(id: ds.pubkey),
+                  let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
                   lud16 != profile.lud16 else {
                 return
             }
@@ -514,10 +509,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         .onReceive(handle_notify(.onlyzaps_mode)) { hide in
             home.filter_events()
 
-            guard let ds = damus_state else { return }
-            let profile_txn = ds.profiles.lookup(id: ds.pubkey)
-
-            guard let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
+            guard let ds = damus_state,
+                  let profile_txn = ds.profiles.lookup(id: ds.pubkey),
+                  let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
                   let keypair = ds.keypair.to_full()
             else {
                 return
@@ -534,9 +528,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             }
         }, message: {
             if let pubkey = self.muting {
-                let name = damus_state!.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map { profile in
-                    Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
-                }.value
+                let profile_txn = damus_state!.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
+                let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
+                let name = Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
                 Text("\(name) has been muted", comment: "Alert message that informs a user was muted.")
             } else {
                 Text("User has been muted", comment: "Alert message that informs a user was muted.")
@@ -595,9 +589,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             }
         }, message: {
             if let pubkey = muting {
-                let name = damus_state?.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map({ profile in
-                    Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
-                }).value ?? "unknown"
+                let profile_txn = damus_state?.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
+                let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
+                let name = Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
                 Text("Mute \(name)?", comment: "Alert message prompt to ask if a user should be muted.")
             } else {
                 Text("Could not find user to mute...", comment: "Alert message to indicate that the muted user could not be found.")
@@ -865,7 +859,8 @@ func find_event_with_subid(state: DamusState, query query_: FindEvent, subid: St
     
     switch query {
     case .profile(let pubkey):
-        if let record = state.ndb.lookup_profile(pubkey).unsafeUnownedValue,
+        if let profile_txn = state.ndb.lookup_profile(pubkey),
+           let record = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
            record.profile != nil
         {
             callback(.profile(pubkey))
diff --git a/damus/Models/EventsModel.swift b/damus/Models/EventsModel.swift
index 4923fd17..7ce906db 100644
--- a/damus/Models/EventsModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/EventsModel.swift
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ class EventsModel: ObservableObject {
         case .auth:
             break
         case .eose:
-            let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self.state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self.state.ndb) else {
+                return
+            }
             load_profiles(context: "events_model", profiles_subid: profiles_id, relay_id: relay_id, load: .from_events(events), damus_state: state, txn: txn)
         }
     }
diff --git a/damus/Models/FollowersModel.swift b/damus/Models/FollowersModel.swift
index ab78c4d2..b74a08b8 100644
--- a/damus/Models/FollowersModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/FollowersModel.swift
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class FollowersModel: ObservableObject {
             
         case .eose(let sub_id):
             if sub_id == self.sub_id {
-                let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self.damus_state.ndb)
+                guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self.damus_state.ndb) else { return }
                 load_profiles(relay_id: relay_id, txn: txn)
             } else if sub_id == self.profiles_id {
                 damus_state.pool.unsubscribe(sub_id: profiles_id, to: [relay_id])
diff --git a/damus/Models/HomeModel.swift b/damus/Models/HomeModel.swift
index 2e794fe5..4210ce3e 100644
--- a/damus/Models/HomeModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/HomeModel.swift
@@ -414,8 +414,10 @@ class HomeModel {
                 print(msg)
 
             case .eose(let sub_id):
-                
-                let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+                guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb) else {
+                    return
+                }
+
                 if sub_id == dms_subid {
                     var dms = dms.dms.flatMap { $0.events }
                     dms.append(contentsOf: incoming_dms)
diff --git a/damus/Models/NoteContent.swift b/damus/Models/NoteContent.swift
index 889a4ba6..4ccaa681 100644
--- a/damus/Models/NoteContent.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/NoteContent.swift
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ func mention_str(_ m: Mention<MentionRef>, profiles: Profiles) -> CompatibleText
     case .pubkey(let pk):
         let npub = bech32_pubkey(pk)
         let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: pk)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         let disp = Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pk).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
         var attributedString = AttributedString(stringLiteral: "@\(disp)")
         attributedString.link = URL(string: "damus:nostr:\(npub)")
diff --git a/damus/Models/NotificationsManager.swift b/damus/Models/NotificationsManager.swift
index 3618cd3e..66a5d3a0 100644
--- a/damus/Models/NotificationsManager.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/NotificationsManager.swift
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func process_local_notification(state: HeadlessDamusState, event ev: NostrEvent)
     guard let local_notification = generate_local_notification_object(from: ev, state: state) else {
         return
     }
+
     create_local_notification(profiles: state.profiles, notify: local_notification)
 }
 
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@ func generate_local_notification_object(from ev: NostrEvent, state: HeadlessDamu
     } else if type == .like,
               state.settings.like_notification,
               let evid = ev.referenced_ids.last,
-              let liked_event = state.ndb.lookup_note(evid).unsafeUnownedValue   // We are only accessing it temporarily to generate notification content
+              let txn = state.ndb.lookup_note(evid),
+              let liked_event = txn.unsafeUnownedValue   // We are only accessing it temporarily to generate notification content
     {
         let content_preview = render_notification_content_preview(ev: liked_event, profiles: state.profiles, keypair: state.keypair)
         return LocalNotification(type: .like, event: ev, target: liked_event, content: content_preview)
@@ -135,9 +137,9 @@ func render_notification_content_preview(ev: NostrEvent, profiles: Profiles, key
 }
 
 func event_author_name(profiles: Profiles, pubkey: Pubkey) -> String {
-    return profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map({ profile in
-        Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
-    }).value
+    let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
+    let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
+    return Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
 }
 
 @MainActor
@@ -173,8 +175,8 @@ func process_zap_event(state: HeadlessDamusState, ev: NostrEvent, completion: @e
         return
     }
     
-    guard let lnurl = state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(ptag)
-                        .map({ pr in pr?.lnurl }).value else {
+    guard let txn = state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(ptag),
+          let lnurl = txn.map({ pr in pr?.lnurl }).value else {
         completion(.failed)
         return
     }
@@ -221,7 +223,8 @@ func get_zap_target_pubkey(ev: NostrEvent, ndb: Ndb) -> Pubkey? {
     }
 
     // we can't trust the p tag on note zaps because they can be faked
-    guard let pk = ndb.lookup_note(etag).unsafeUnownedValue?.pubkey else {
+    guard let txn = ndb.lookup_note(etag),
+          let pk = txn.unsafeUnownedValue?.pubkey else {
         // We don't have the event in cache so we can't check the pubkey.
 
         // We could return this as an invalid zap but that wouldn't be correct
diff --git a/damus/Models/ProfileModel.swift b/damus/Models/ProfileModel.swift
index 76e294a9..d0392659 100644
--- a/damus/Models/ProfileModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/ProfileModel.swift
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class ProfileModel: ObservableObject, Equatable {
                 break
                 //notify(.notice, notice)
             case .eose:
-                let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus.ndb)
+                guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus.ndb) else { return }
                 if resp.subid == sub_id {
                     load_profiles(context: "profile", profiles_subid: prof_subid, relay_id: relay_id, load: .from_events(events.events), damus_state: damus, txn: txn)
                 }
diff --git a/damus/Models/SearchHomeModel.swift b/damus/Models/SearchHomeModel.swift
index 07344f66..84ae5911 100644
--- a/damus/Models/SearchHomeModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/SearchHomeModel.swift
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ class SearchHomeModel: ObservableObject {
                 // global events are not realtime
                 unsubscribe(to: relay_id)
                 
-                let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+                guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb) else { return }
                 load_profiles(context: "universe", profiles_subid: profiles_subid, relay_id: relay_id, load: .from_events(events.all_events), damus_state: damus_state, txn: txn)
             }
 
diff --git a/damus/Models/SearchModel.swift b/damus/Models/SearchModel.swift
index 9dc49723..b61231af 100644
--- a/damus/Models/SearchModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/SearchModel.swift
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class SearchModel: ObservableObject {
         self.loading = false
         
         if sub_id == self.sub_id {
-            let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: state.ndb) else { return }
             load_profiles(context: "search", profiles_subid: self.profiles_subid, relay_id: relay_id, load: .from_events(self.events.all_events), damus_state: state, txn: txn)
         }
     }
diff --git a/damus/Models/ThreadModel.swift b/damus/Models/ThreadModel.swift
index 06f63c7b..dbc86929 100644
--- a/damus/Models/ThreadModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/ThreadModel.swift
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class ThreadModel: ObservableObject {
         }
         
         if sub_id == self.base_subid {
-            let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb) else { return }
             load_profiles(context: "thread", profiles_subid: self.profiles_subid, relay_id: relay_id, load: .from_events(Array(event_map)), damus_state: damus_state, txn: txn)
         }
     }
diff --git a/damus/Models/ZapsModel.swift b/damus/Models/ZapsModel.swift
index b20f3957..49870f2a 100644
--- a/damus/Models/ZapsModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Models/ZapsModel.swift
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class ZapsModel: ObservableObject {
             break
         case .eose:
             let events = state.events.lookup_zaps(target: target).map { $0.request.ev }
-            let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: state.ndb) else { return }
             load_profiles(context: "zaps_model", profiles_subid: profiles_subid, relay_id: relay_id, load: .from_events(events), damus_state: state, txn: txn)
         case .event(_, let ev):
             guard ev.kind == 9735,
diff --git a/damus/Nostr/Profiles.swift b/damus/Nostr/Profiles.swift
index ad9a5dde..71c5327b 100644
--- a/damus/Nostr/Profiles.swift
+++ b/damus/Nostr/Profiles.swift
@@ -73,24 +73,27 @@ class Profiles {
         profile_data(pubkey).zapper
     }
 
-    func lookup_with_timestamp(_ pubkey: Pubkey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?> {
-        return ndb.lookup_profile(pubkey)
+    func lookup_with_timestamp(_ pubkey: Pubkey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?>? {
+        ndb.lookup_profile(pubkey)
     }
 
-    func lookup_by_key(key: ProfileKey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?> {
-        return ndb.lookup_profile_by_key(key: key)
+    func lookup_by_key(key: ProfileKey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?>? {
+        ndb.lookup_profile_by_key(key: key)
     }
 
     func search<Y>(_ query: String, limit: Int, txn: NdbTxn<Y>) -> [Pubkey] {
-        return ndb.search_profile(query, limit: limit, txn: txn)
+        ndb.search_profile(query, limit: limit, txn: txn)
     }
 
-    func lookup(id: Pubkey) -> NdbTxn<Profile?> {
-        return ndb.lookup_profile(id).map({ pr in pr?.profile })
+    func lookup(id: Pubkey) -> NdbTxn<Profile?>? {
+        guard let txn = ndb.lookup_profile(id) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+        return txn.map({ pr in pr?.profile })
     }
 
     func lookup_key_by_pubkey(_ pubkey: Pubkey) -> ProfileKey? {
-        return ndb.lookup_profile_key(pubkey)
+        ndb.lookup_profile_key(pubkey)
     }
 
     func has_fresh_profile<Y>(id: Pubkey, txn: NdbTxn<Y>) -> Bool {
diff --git a/damus/Views/ActionBar/EventActionBar.swift b/damus/Views/ActionBar/EventActionBar.swift
index e0aa1ca1..3775f99d 100644
--- a/damus/Views/ActionBar/EventActionBar.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/ActionBar/EventActionBar.swift
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ struct EventActionBar: View {
     }
     
     var lnurl: String? {
-        damus_state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(event.pubkey).map({ pr in pr?.lnurl }).value
+        damus_state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(event.pubkey)?.map({ pr in
+            pr?.lnurl
+        }).value
     }
     
     var show_like: Bool {
diff --git a/damus/Views/BannerImageView.swift b/damus/Views/BannerImageView.swift
index dee4e11e..9cdd2b18 100644
--- a/damus/Views/BannerImageView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/BannerImageView.swift
@@ -78,11 +78,12 @@ struct BannerImageView: View {
     var body: some View {
         InnerBannerImageView(disable_animation: disable_animation, url: get_banner_url(banner: banner, pubkey: pubkey, profiles: profiles))
             .onReceive(handle_notify(.profile_updated)) { updated in
-                guard updated.pubkey == self.pubkey else {
+                guard updated.pubkey == self.pubkey,
+                      let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: updated.pubkey)
+                else {
                     return
                 }
 
-                let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: updated.pubkey)
                 let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
                 if let bannerImage = profile?.banner, bannerImage != self.banner {
                     self.banner = bannerImage
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ struct BannerImageView: View {
 }
 
 func get_banner_url(banner: String?, pubkey: Pubkey, profiles: Profiles) -> URL? {
-    let bannerUrlString = banner ?? profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map({ p in p?.banner }).value ?? ""
+    let bannerUrlString = banner ?? profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)?.map({ p in p?.banner }).value ?? ""
     if let url = URL(string: bannerUrlString) {
         return url
     }
diff --git a/damus/Views/Events/Components/ReplyDescription.swift b/damus/Views/Events/Components/ReplyDescription.swift
index 90a64f2a..1a1c529c 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Events/Components/ReplyDescription.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Events/Components/ReplyDescription.swift
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ func reply_desc(ndb: Ndb, event: NostrEvent, replying_to: NostrEvent?, locale: L
         return NSLocalizedString("Replying to self", bundle: bundle, comment: "Label to indicate that the user is replying to themself.")
     }
 
-    let profile_txn = NdbTxn(ndb: ndb)
+    guard let profile_txn = NdbTxn(ndb: ndb) else  {
+        return ""
+    }
 
     let names: [String] = pubkeys.map { pk in
         let prof = ndb.lookup_profile_with_txn(pk, txn: profile_txn)
diff --git a/damus/Views/FollowingView.swift b/damus/Views/FollowingView.swift
index 16dab49c..434ff7ff 100644
--- a/damus/Views/FollowingView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/FollowingView.swift
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ struct FollowingView: View {
         }
         .tabViewStyle(.page(indexDisplayMode: .never))
         .onAppear {
-            let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self.damus_state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self.damus_state.ndb) else { return }
             following.subscribe(txn: txn)
         }
         .onDisappear {
diff --git a/damus/Views/NoteContentView.swift b/damus/Views/NoteContentView.swift
index 47fceb7f..fc69b9ca 100644
--- a/damus/Views/NoteContentView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/NoteContentView.swift
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ struct NoteContentView: View {
 class NoteArtifactsParts {
     var parts: [ArtifactPart]
     var words: Int
-    
+
     init(parts: [ArtifactPart], words: Int) {
         self.parts = parts
         self.words = words
diff --git a/damus/Views/Notifications/NotificationsView.swift b/damus/Views/Notifications/NotificationsView.swift
index b68d78b8..3ff89e28 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Notifications/NotificationsView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Notifications/NotificationsView.swift
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ struct NotificationsView: View {
     
     var mystery: some View {
         let profile_txn = state.profiles.lookup(id: state.pubkey)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         return VStack(spacing: 20) {
             Text("Wake up, \(Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: state.pubkey).displayName.truncate(maxLength: 50))", comment: "Text telling the user to wake up, where the argument is their display name.")
             Text("You are dreaming...", comment: "Text telling the user that they are dreaming.")
diff --git a/damus/Views/Onboarding/SuggestedUsersViewModel.swift b/damus/Views/Onboarding/SuggestedUsersViewModel.swift
index f78ae7b6..a711e32f 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Onboarding/SuggestedUsersViewModel.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Onboarding/SuggestedUsersViewModel.swift
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class SuggestedUsersViewModel: ObservableObject {
 
     func suggestedUser(pubkey: Pubkey) -> SuggestedUser? {
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-        if let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
+        if let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue,
            let user = SuggestedUser(name: profile.name, about: profile.about, picture: profile.picture, pubkey: pubkey) {
             return user
         }
diff --git a/damus/Views/PostView.swift b/damus/Views/PostView.swift
index 5803e3db..8fabf0fe 100644
--- a/damus/Views/PostView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/PostView.swift
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ struct PostView: View {
         }
         
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         return user_tag_attr_string(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey)
     }
     
diff --git a/damus/Views/Posting/UserSearch.swift b/damus/Views/Posting/UserSearch.swift
index e783eff2..c4136e35 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Posting/UserSearch.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Posting/UserSearch.swift
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ struct UserSearch: View {
     @EnvironmentObject var tagModel: TagModel
     
     var users: [Pubkey] {
-        let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+        guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus_state.ndb) else { return [] }
         return search_profiles(profiles: damus_state.profiles, search: search, txn: txn).sorted { a, b in
             let aFriendTypePriority = get_friend_type(contacts: damus_state.contacts, pubkey: a)?.priority ?? 0
             let bFriendTypePriority = get_friend_type(contacts: damus_state.contacts, pubkey: b)?.priority ?? 0
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ struct UserSearch: View {
     
     func on_user_tapped(pk: Pubkey) {
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: pk)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         let user_tag = user_tag_attr_string(profile: profile, pubkey: pk)
 
         appendUserTag(withTag: user_tag)
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/EditMetadataView.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/EditMetadataView.swift
index 07e3e5ce..99eb473d 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/EditMetadataView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/EditMetadataView.swift
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ struct EditMetadataView: View {
     
     init(damus_state: DamusState) {
         self.damus_state = damus_state
-        let data = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: damus_state.pubkey).unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: damus_state.pubkey)
+        let data = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
 
         _name = State(initialValue: data?.name ?? "")
         _display_name = State(initialValue: data?.display_name ?? "")
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/EventProfileName.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/EventProfileName.swift
index 19435e22..5a31822b 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/EventProfileName.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/EventProfileName.swift
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ struct EventProfileName: View {
         self.damus_state = damus
         self.pubkey = pubkey
         self.size = size
-        let donation = damus.ndb.lookup_profile(pubkey).map({ p in p?.profile?.damus_donation }).value
+        let donation = damus.ndb.lookup_profile(pubkey)?.map({ p in p?.profile?.damus_donation }).value
         self._donation = State(wrappedValue: donation)
         is_purple_user = nil
     }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct EventProfileName: View {
 
     var body: some View {
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         HStack(spacing: 2) {
             switch current_display_name(profile) {
             case .one(let one):
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ struct EventProfileName: View {
             }
 
             let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: update.pubkey)
-            guard let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue else { return }
+            guard let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue else { return }
 
             let display_name = Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey)
             if display_name != self.display_name {
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileName.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileName.swift
index b7911b01..92b8cdbe 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileName.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileName.swift
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ struct ProfileName: View {
     
     var body: some View {
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
 
         HStack(spacing: 2) {
             Text(verbatim: "\(prefix)\(name_choice(profile: profile))")
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileNameView.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileNameView.swift
index 44c585b4..f3feed2b 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileNameView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileNameView.swift
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ struct ProfileNameView: View {
         Group {
             VStack(alignment: .leading) {
                 let profile_txn = self.damus.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-                let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+                let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
 
                 switch Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pubkey) {
                 case .one:
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePicView.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePicView.swift
index cc3773ed..20efd043 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePicView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePicView.swift
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ struct ProfilePicView: View {
     }
     
     func get_lnurl() -> String? {
-        return profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(pubkey).unsafeUnownedValue?.lnurl
+        return profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(pubkey)?.unsafeUnownedValue?.lnurl
     }
     
     var body: some View {
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ struct ProfilePicView: View {
                             }
                         case .remote(pubkey: let pk):
                             let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: pk)
-                            let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+                            let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
                             if let pic = profile?.picture {
                                 self.picture = pic
                             }
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ struct ProfilePicView: View {
 }
 
 func get_profile_url(picture: String?, pubkey: Pubkey, profiles: Profiles) -> URL {
-    let pic = picture ?? profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map({ $0?.picture }).value ?? robohash(pubkey)
+    let pic = picture ?? profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)?.map({ $0?.picture }).value ?? robohash(pubkey)
     if let url = URL(string: pic) {
         return url
     }
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePictureSelector.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePictureSelector.swift
index 77fc2d0f..5559746c 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePictureSelector.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfilePictureSelector.swift
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ struct EditProfilePictureView: View {
         if let profile_url {
             return profile_url
         } else if let state = damus_state,
-                  let picture = state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey).map({ pr in pr?.picture }).value {
+                  let picture = state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)?.map({ pr in pr?.picture }).value {
             return URL(string: picture)
         } else {
             return profile_url ?? URL(string: robohash(pubkey))
diff --git a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift
index 0b9e1a44..47dc0fe8 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Profile/ProfileView.swift
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ func follow_btn_txt(_ fs: FollowState, follows_you: Bool) -> String {
     }
 }
 
-func followedByString<Y>(txn: NdbTxn<Y>, _ friend_intersection: [Pubkey], ndb: Ndb, locale: Locale = Locale.current) -> String {
+func followedByString(_ friend_intersection: [Pubkey], ndb: Ndb, locale: Locale = Locale.current) -> String {
     let bundle = bundleForLocale(locale: locale)
     let names: [String] = friend_intersection.prefix(3).map { pk in
-        let profile = ndb.lookup_profile_with_txn(pk, txn: txn)?.profile
+        let profile = ndb.lookup_profile(pk)?.unsafeUnownedValue?.profile
         return Profile.displayName(profile: profile, pubkey: pk).username.truncate(maxLength: 20)
     }
 
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ struct ProfileView: View {
     var aboutSection: some View {
         VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8.0) {
             let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(profile.pubkey)
-            let profile_data = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+            let profile_data = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
 
             nameSection(profile_data: profile_data)
 
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ struct ProfileView: View {
                     NavigationLink(value: Route.FollowersYouKnow(friendedFollowers: friended_followers, followers: followers)) {
                         HStack {
                             CondensedProfilePicturesView(state: damus_state, pubkeys: friended_followers, maxPictures: 3)
-                            let followedByString = followedByString(txn: profile_txn, friended_followers, ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+                            let followedByString = followedByString(friended_followers, ndb: damus_state.ndb)
                             Text(followedByString)
                                 .font(.subheadline).foregroundColor(.gray)
                                 .multilineTextAlignment(.leading)
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ extension View {
 func check_nip05_validity(pubkey: Pubkey, profiles: Profiles) {
     let profile_txn = profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
 
-    guard let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
+    guard let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue,
           let nip05 = profile.nip05,
           profiles.is_validated(pubkey) == nil
     else {
diff --git a/damus/Views/ProfileActionSheetView.swift b/damus/Views/ProfileActionSheetView.swift
index fedbd486..bcec3929 100644
--- a/damus/Views/ProfileActionSheetView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/ProfileActionSheetView.swift
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ struct ProfileActionSheetView: View {
     
     func profile_data() -> ProfileRecord? {
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(profile.pubkey)
-        return profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        return profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
     }
     
     func get_profile() -> Profile? {
diff --git a/damus/Views/QRCodeView.swift b/damus/Views/QRCodeView.swift
index af91d2d6..772b3756 100644
--- a/damus/Views/QRCodeView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/QRCodeView.swift
@@ -119,10 +119,11 @@ struct QRCodeView: View {
     var QRView: some View {
         VStack(alignment: .center) {
             let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-            let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
-            let our_profile = damus_state.ndb.lookup_profile_with_txn(damus_state.pubkey, txn: profile_txn)
+            let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
+            let our_profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: damus_state.pubkey)
+            let our_profile = our_profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
 
-            if our_profile?.profile?.picture != nil {
+            if our_profile?.picture != nil {
                 ProfilePicView(pubkey: pubkey, size: 90.0, highlight: .custom(DamusColors.white, 3.0), profiles: damus_state.profiles, disable_animation: damus_state.settings.disable_animation)
                     .padding(.top, 50)
             } else {
diff --git a/damus/Views/ReplyView.swift b/damus/Views/ReplyView.swift
index 27042166..7686017b 100644
--- a/damus/Views/ReplyView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/ReplyView.swift
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ struct ReplyView: View {
     var ReplyingToSection: some View {
         HStack {
             Group {
-                let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: damus.ndb)
                 let names = references
                     .map { pubkey in
                         let pk = pubkey
-                        let prof = damus.ndb.lookup_profile_with_txn(pk, txn: txn)?.profile
+                        let prof = damus.ndb.lookup_profile(pk)?.unsafeUnownedValue?.profile
                         return "@" + Profile.displayName(profile: prof, pubkey: pk).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
                     }
                     .joined(separator: " ")
diff --git a/damus/Views/Search/PullDownSearch.swift b/damus/Views/Search/PullDownSearch.swift
index e23ba1dd..21e98559 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Search/PullDownSearch.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Search/PullDownSearch.swift
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ struct PullDownSearchView: View {
         }
 
         do {
-            let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: state.ndb) else { return }
             for note_key in note_keys {
                 guard let note = state.ndb.lookup_note_by_key_with_txn(note_key, txn: txn) else {
                     continue
diff --git a/damus/Views/SearchResultsView.swift b/damus/Views/SearchResultsView.swift
index b2748880..18f6e221 100644
--- a/damus/Views/SearchResultsView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/SearchResultsView.swift
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@ struct SearchResultsView: View {
         }
         .frame(maxHeight: .infinity)
         .onAppear {
-            let txn = NdbTxn.init(ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn.init(ndb: damus_state.ndb) else { return }
             self.result = search_for_string(profiles: damus_state.profiles, search: search, txn: txn)
         }
         .onChange(of: search) { new in
-            let txn = NdbTxn.init(ndb: damus_state.ndb)
+            guard let txn = NdbTxn.init(ndb: damus_state.ndb) else { return }
             self.result = search_for_string(profiles: damus_state.profiles, search: search, txn: txn)
         }
     }
diff --git a/damus/Views/SideMenuView.swift b/damus/Views/SideMenuView.swift
index 4b2bbfc0..ca5968f4 100644
--- a/damus/Views/SideMenuView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/SideMenuView.swift
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ struct SideMenuView: View {
 
     var TopProfile: some View {
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: damus_state.pubkey)
-        let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         return VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: verticalSpacing) {
             HStack {
                 ProfilePicView(pubkey: damus_state.pubkey, size: 60, highlight: .none, profiles: damus_state.profiles, disable_animation: damus_state.settings.disable_animation)
diff --git a/damus/Views/Wallet/WalletView.swift b/damus/Views/Wallet/WalletView.swift
index 4eaf6449..ff93a745 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Wallet/WalletView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Wallet/WalletView.swift
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ struct WalletView: View {
                 }
                 .onChange(of: settings.donation_percent) { p in
                     let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: damus_state.pubkey)
-                    guard let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue else {
+                    guard let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue else {
                         return
                     }
                     
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ struct WalletView: View {
                     let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup(id: damus_state.pubkey)
                     
                     guard let keypair = damus_state.keypair.to_full(),
-                          let profile = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue,
+                          let profile = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue,
                           model.initial_percent != profile.damus_donation
                     else {
                         return
diff --git a/damus/Views/Zaps/ProfileZapLinkView.swift b/damus/Views/Zaps/ProfileZapLinkView.swift
index 89e480ee..ad130327 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Zaps/ProfileZapLinkView.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Zaps/ProfileZapLinkView.swift
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ struct ProfileZapLinkView<Content: View>: View {
         self.action = action
         
         let profile_txn = damus_state.profiles.lookup_with_timestamp(pubkey)
-        let record = profile_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let record = profile_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         self.reactions_enabled = record?.profile?.reactions ?? true
         self.lud16 = record?.profile?.lud06
         self.lnurl = record?.lnurl
diff --git a/damus/Views/Zaps/ZapTypePicker.swift b/damus/Views/Zaps/ZapTypePicker.swift
index a9416d4d..a7e3b3db 100644
--- a/damus/Views/Zaps/ZapTypePicker.swift
+++ b/damus/Views/Zaps/ZapTypePicker.swift
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func zap_type_desc(type: ZapType, profiles: Profiles, pubkey: Pubkey) -> String
         return NSLocalizedString("No one will see that you zapped", comment: "Description of anonymous zap type where the zap is sent anonymously and does not identify the user who sent it.")
     case .priv:
         let prof_txn = profiles.lookup(id: pubkey)
-        let prof = prof_txn.unsafeUnownedValue
+        let prof = prof_txn?.unsafeUnownedValue
         let name = Profile.displayName(profile: prof, pubkey: pubkey).username.truncate(maxLength: 50)
         return String.localizedStringWithFormat(NSLocalizedString("private_zap_description", value: "Only '%@' will see that you zapped them", comment: "Description of private zap type where the zap is sent privately and does not identify the user to the public."), name)
     case .non_zap:
diff --git a/nostrdb/Ndb.swift b/nostrdb/Ndb.swift
index 3fdea3d2..b9956460 100644
--- a/nostrdb/Ndb.swift
+++ b/nostrdb/Ndb.swift
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ class Ndb {
             throw DatabaseError.failed_open
         }
 
+        self.closed = false
         self.ndb = db
     }
 
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ class Ndb {
     }
 
     func text_search(query: String, limit: Int = 32, order: NdbSearchOrder = .newest_first) -> [NoteKey] {
-        let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self)
+        guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self) else { return [] }
         var results = ndb_text_search_results()
         let res = query.withCString { q in
             let order = order == .newest_first ? NDB_ORDER_DESCENDING : NDB_ORDER_ASCENDING
@@ -243,7 +244,7 @@ class Ndb {
         return note_ids
     }
 
-    func lookup_note_by_key(_ key: NoteKey) -> NdbTxn<NdbNote?> {
+    func lookup_note_by_key(_ key: NoteKey) -> NdbTxn<NdbNote?>? {
         return NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
             lookup_note_by_key_with_txn(key, txn: txn)
         }
@@ -301,7 +302,7 @@ class Ndb {
         lookup_profile_by_key_inner(key, txn: txn)
     }
 
-    func lookup_profile_by_key(key: ProfileKey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?> {
+    func lookup_profile_by_key(key: ProfileKey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?>? {
         return NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
             lookup_profile_by_key_inner(key, txn: txn)
         }
@@ -312,9 +313,13 @@ class Ndb {
     }
 
     func lookup_profile_key(_ pubkey: Pubkey) -> ProfileKey? {
-        return NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
+        guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self, with: { txn in
             lookup_profile_key_with_txn(pubkey, txn: txn)
-        }.value
+        }) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+
+        return txn.value
     }
 
     func lookup_profile_key_with_txn<Y>(_ pubkey: Pubkey, txn: NdbTxn<Y>) -> ProfileKey? {
@@ -342,17 +347,23 @@ class Ndb {
     }
 
     func lookup_note_key(_ id: NoteId) -> NoteKey? {
-        NdbTxn(ndb: self, with: { txn in lookup_note_key_with_txn(id, txn: txn) }).value
+        guard let txn = NdbTxn(ndb: self, with: { txn in
+            lookup_note_key_with_txn(id, txn: txn)
+        }) else {
+            return nil
+        }
+
+        return txn.value
     }
 
-    func lookup_note(_ id: NoteId) -> NdbTxn<NdbNote?> {
-        return NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
+    func lookup_note(_ id: NoteId) -> NdbTxn<NdbNote?>? {
+        NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
             lookup_note_with_txn_inner(id: id, txn: txn)
         }
     }
 
-    func lookup_profile(_ pubkey: Pubkey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?> {
-        return NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
+    func lookup_profile(_ pubkey: Pubkey) -> NdbTxn<ProfileRecord?>? {
+        NdbTxn(ndb: self) { txn in
             lookup_profile_with_txn_inner(pubkey: pubkey, txn: txn)
         }
     }
diff --git a/nostrdb/NdbTxn.swift b/nostrdb/NdbTxn.swift
index a7628902..76e9ccaf 100644
--- a/nostrdb/NdbTxn.swift
+++ b/nostrdb/NdbTxn.swift
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ class NdbTxn<T> {
     var moved: Bool
     var inherited: Bool
 
-    init(ndb: Ndb, with: (NdbTxn<T>) -> T = { _ in () }) {
-        #if TXNDEBUG
+    init?(ndb: Ndb, with: (NdbTxn<T>) -> T = { _ in () }) {
+        guard !ndb.closed else { return nil }
+#if TXNDEBUG
         txn_count += 1
         print("opening transaction \(txn_count)")
         #endif
@@ -31,11 +32,7 @@ class NdbTxn<T> {
             self.txn = ndb_txn()
             let ok = ndb_begin_query(ndb.ndb.ndb, &self.txn) != 0
             if !ok {
-                self.moved = false
-                self.txn = ndb_txn()
-                self.inherited = true
-                self.val = with(self)
-                return
+                return nil
             }
             Thread.current.threadDictionary["ndb_txn"] = self.txn
             self.inherited = false