diff --git a/internal/common/module.go b/internal/common/module.go
index 5f0ca55..6517b14 100644
--- a/internal/common/module.go
+++ b/internal/common/module.go
@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@ type KeyValueModule interface {
 }
 
 type DatabaseModule interface {
-	Database() (*sql.DB, error)
+	QueryContext(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sql.Rows, error)
 }
diff --git a/internal/module/db-sqlite.go b/internal/module/db-sqlite.go
index d0b4d46..aeeae46 100644
--- a/internal/module/db-sqlite.go
+++ b/internal/module/db-sqlite.go
@@ -53,51 +53,50 @@ func init() {
 	})
 }
 
-func (t *DbSqlite) Id() string {
-	return t.config.Id
+func (dbs *DbSqlite) Id() string {
+	return dbs.config.Id
 }
 
-func (t *DbSqlite) Type() string {
-	return t.config.Type
+func (dbs *DbSqlite) Type() string {
+	return dbs.config.Type
 }
 
-func (t *DbSqlite) Start(ctx context.Context, router common.RouteIO) error {
-	t.logger.Debug("running")
-	t.router = router
+func (dbs *DbSqlite) Start(ctx context.Context, router common.RouteIO) error {
+	dbs.logger.Debug("running")
+	dbs.router = router
 	moduleContext, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
-	t.ctx = moduleContext
-	t.cancel = cancel
+	dbs.ctx = moduleContext
+	dbs.cancel = cancel
 
-	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", t.Dsn)
+	db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbs.Dsn)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("db.sqlite error opening database: %w", err)
 	}
-	t.dbMu.Lock()
-	t.db = db
-	t.dbMu.Unlock()
-	<-t.ctx.Done()
+	dbs.dbMu.Lock()
+	dbs.db = db
+	dbs.dbMu.Unlock()
+	<-dbs.ctx.Done()
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *DbSqlite) Stop() {
-	if t.cancel != nil {
-		t.cancel()
+func (dbs *DbSqlite) Stop() {
+	if dbs.cancel != nil {
+		dbs.cancel()
 	}
-	t.dbMu.Lock()
-	defer t.dbMu.Unlock()
-	if t.db != nil {
-		t.db.Close()
-		t.db = nil
+	dbs.dbMu.Lock()
+	defer dbs.dbMu.Unlock()
+	if dbs.db != nil {
+		dbs.db.Close()
+		dbs.db = nil
 	}
-	t.logger.Debug("done")
+	dbs.logger.Debug("done")
 }
 
-// TODO(jwetzell): get a database module layout that doesn't require handing the DB over
-func (t *DbSqlite) Database() (*sql.DB, error) {
-	t.dbMu.Lock()
-	defer t.dbMu.Unlock()
-	if t.db == nil {
+func (dbs *DbSqlite) QueryContext(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sql.Rows, error) {
+	dbs.dbMu.Lock()
+	defer dbs.dbMu.Unlock()
+	if dbs.db == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("database not initialized")
 	}
-	return t.db, nil
+	return dbs.db.QueryContext(ctx, query, args...)
 }
diff --git a/internal/processor/db-query.go b/internal/processor/db-query.go
index 3674b23..a2b62c8 100644
--- a/internal/processor/db-query.go
+++ b/internal/processor/db-query.go
@@ -42,19 +42,8 @@ func (dq *DbQuery) Process(ctx context.Context, wrappedPayload common.WrappedPay
 		dq.module = dbModule
 	}
 
-	db, err := dq.module.Database()
-	if err != nil {
-		wrappedPayload.End = true
-		return wrappedPayload, fmt.Errorf("db.query error getting database from module: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if db == nil {
-		wrappedPayload.End = true
-		return wrappedPayload, fmt.Errorf("db.query module with id %s returned nil database", dq.ModuleId)
-	}
-
 	var queryBuffer bytes.Buffer
-	err = dq.Query.Execute(&queryBuffer, wrappedPayload)
+	err := dq.Query.Execute(&queryBuffer, wrappedPayload)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		wrappedPayload.End = true
@@ -62,7 +51,7 @@ func (dq *DbQuery) Process(ctx context.Context, wrappedPayload common.WrappedPay
 	}
 
 	// support proper parameterized queries
-	rows, err := db.QueryContext(ctx, queryBuffer.String())
+	rows, err := dq.module.QueryContext(ctx, queryBuffer.String())
 	if err != nil {
 		wrappedPayload.End = true
 		return wrappedPayload, fmt.Errorf("db.query error executing query: %w", err)
diff --git a/internal/test/module.go b/internal/test/module.go
index 60d0e35..5e55883 100644
--- a/internal/test/module.go
+++ b/internal/test/module.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (m *TestDBModule) Start(ctx context.Context, router common.RouteIO) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *TestDBModule) Database() (*sql.DB, error) {
+func (m *TestDBModule) QueryContext(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sql.Rows, error) {
 	if m.db == nil {
 		db, err := sql.Open("sqlite", ":memory:")
 		if err != nil {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (m *TestDBModule) Database() (*sql.DB, error) {
 		}
 		m.db = db
 	}
-	return m.db, nil
+	return m.db.QueryContext(ctx, query, args...)
 }
 
 func (m *TestDBModule) Stop() {}