diff --git a/fail2ban/server/database.py b/fail2ban/server/database.py
index 7de87554..c0e9bf46 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/database.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/database.py
@@ -182,8 +182,11 @@ class Fail2BanDb(object):
 			raise
 
 		cur = self._db.cursor()
-		cur.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;")
-
+		cur.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON")
+		# speedup: write data through OS without syncing (no wait):
+		cur.execute("PRAGMA synchronous = OFF")
+		# speedup: transaction log in memory, alternate using OFF (disable, rollback will be impossible):
+		cur.execute("PRAGMA journal_mode = MEMORY")
 		try:
 			cur.execute("SELECT version FROM fail2banDb LIMIT 1")
 		except sqlite3.OperationalError: