diff --git a/Module.py b/Module.py
index 61ba095..90c701c 100644
--- a/Module.py
+++ b/Module.py
@@ -308,7 +308,8 @@ class Module(object):
         version = None
         try:
             cur = conn.cursor()
-            cur.execute("SELECT version FROM drbotzo_modules WHERE module = ?", modulename)
+            cur.execute("SELECT version FROM drbotzo_modules WHERE module = :name",
+                {'name': modulename})
             version = cur.fetchone()
             if (version != None):
                 version = version[0]
diff --git a/modules/Karma.py b/modules/Karma.py
index 24472be..940f991 100755
--- a/modules/Karma.py
+++ b/modules/Karma.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import re
-import shelve
 
 from Module import Module
 
@@ -31,18 +30,41 @@ class Karma(Module):
 
         Module.__init__(self, config, server, modlist)
 
-        filename = self.config.get(self.__class__.__name__, 'karmafile')
-        self.karmafile = filename + "_karma.dat"
-        self.trendfile = filename + "_trends.dat"
-
         pattern = "([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)"
-
         karmapattern = '^' + pattern + '(\+\+|--)'
         querypattern = '^!rank\s+' + pattern
 
         self.karmare = re.compile(karmapattern)
         self.queryre = re.compile(querypattern)
 
+        # need to init the database if karma tables don't already exist
+        version = self.db_module_registered(self.__class__.__name__)
+        if (version == None):
+            # have to create the database tables
+            conn = self.get_db()
+            try:
+                conn.execute('''
+                   CREATE TABLE karma_log (
+                        id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+                        key TEXT NOT NULL,
+                        delta INTEGER NOT NULL,
+                        who TEXT NOT NULL,
+                        userhost TEXT NOT NULL,
+                        karmatime TEXT DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+                    )''')
+                conn.execute('CREATE INDEX karma_log_key_ix ON karma_log (key)')
+                conn.execute('CREATE INDEX karma_log_who_ix ON karma_log (who)')
+                conn.execute('''
+                    CREATE VIEW karma_values AS
+                    SELECT key, SUM(delta) AS value
+                    FROM karma_log
+                    GROUP BY key''')
+                
+                sql = 'INSERT INTO drbotzo_modules VALUES (?,?)'
+                conn.execute(sql, (self.__class__.__name__, 1))
+                conn.commit()
+            finally: conn.close()
+
     def do(self, connection, event, nick, userhost, replypath, what, admin_unlocked):
         """look for karma strings at the start of messages"""
         
@@ -64,35 +86,15 @@ class Karma(Module):
         else:
             value = -1;
 
-        # do karma recording
-        karma = shelve.open(self.karmafile)
+        conn = self.get_db()
         try:
-            oldvalue = 0;
-            if karma.has_key(key):
-                oldvalue = karma[key]
-            newvalue = oldvalue + value;
-            karma[key] = newvalue;
-        finally:
-            karma.close()
-
-        trend = shelve.open(self.trendfile)
-        try:
-            nickpos = nick + "_pos"
-            nickneg = nick + "_neg"
-            trend_pos = 0;
-            trend_neg = 0;
-            if trend.has_key(nickpos):
-                trend_pos = trend[nickpos]
-            if trend.has_key(nickneg):
-                trend_neg = trend[nickneg]
-            if value > 0:
-                trend_pos = trend_pos + 1
-            else:
-                trend_neg = trend_neg + 1
-            trend[nickpos] = trend_pos;
-            trend[nickneg] = trend_neg;
-        finally:
-            trend.close();
+            sql = '''
+            INSERT INTO karma_log (key, delta, who, userhost)
+            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)
+            '''
+            conn.execute(sql, (key, value, nick, userhost))
+            conn.commit()
+        finally: conn.close()
 
         reply = "karma change for '" + key + "' (" + str(value) + ") by " + nick
         self.reply(connection, replypath, reply)
@@ -101,14 +103,19 @@ class Karma(Module):
         match = self.queryre.match(what)
         key = match.group(1)
 
-        karma = shelve.open(self.karmafile, "r")
-        reply = key + ' has no karma'
+        conn = self.get_db()
+        reply = '{nick}: {key} has no karma'.format(nick=nick, key=key)
         try:
-            if karma.has_key(key):
-                value = karma[key]
-                reply = key + ' has ' + str(value) + ' points of karma'
-        finally:
-            karma.close()
+            query = '''
+            SELECT value
+            FROM karma_values
+            WHERE key = :key
+            '''
+            value = conn.execute(query, {'key': key}).fetchone()
+            if (value != None):
+                reply = '{nick}: {key} has {value[0]!s} points of karma'.format(nick=nick, key=key, value=value)
+       
+        finally: conn.close()
 
         self.reply(connection, replypath, reply)