diff --git a/hexlib/db.py b/hexlib/db.py
index 138622f..12cec9b 100644
--- a/hexlib/db.py
+++ b/hexlib/db.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ class PersistentState:
     def __init__(self, dbfile="state.db", logger=None, table_factory=Table, **dbargs):
         self.dbfile = dbfile
         self.logger = logger
-        if dbargs is None:
+        if dbargs is None or dbargs == {}:
             dbargs = {"timeout": 30000}
         self.dbargs = dbargs
         self._table_factory = table_factory
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 46b8b45..1f74577 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from setuptools import setup
 
 setup(
     name="hexlib",
-    version="1.85",
+    version="1.86",
     description="Misc utility methods",
     author="simon987",
     author_email="me@simon987.net",