diff --git a/components/password-prompt.js b/components/password-prompt.js
index f9e63ee..dec0b68 100644
--- a/components/password-prompt.js
+++ b/components/password-prompt.js
@@ -24,22 +24,19 @@ export default class PasswordPrompt extends Component {
   }
 
   async tryToOpenDb() {
-    try {
-      await openDb({ persistConnection: true })
-    } catch (err) {
+    const connected = await openDb()
+    if (!connected) {
       this.setState({ showPasswordPrompt: true })
       await saveEncryptionFlag(true)
       return
     }
-
     await saveEncryptionFlag(false)
     this.props.showApp()
   }
 
   passHashToDb = async hash => {
-    try {
-      await openDb({ hash, persistConnection: true })
-    } catch (err) {
+    const connected = await openDb(hash)
+    if (!connected) {
       Alert.alert(
         shared.incorrectPassword,
         shared.incorrectPasswordMessage,
diff --git a/components/settings/password/check-current-password.js b/components/settings/password/check-current-password.js
index b177de4..7d60308 100644
--- a/components/settings/password/check-current-password.js
+++ b/components/settings/password/check-current-password.js
@@ -3,21 +3,18 @@ import { openDb } from '../../../db'
 import { shared } from '../../labels'
 
 export default async function checkPassword({hash, onCancel, onTryAgain }) {
-  try {
-    await openDb({ hash, persistConnection: false })
-    return true
-  } catch (err) {
-    Alert.alert(
-      shared.incorrectPassword,
-      shared.incorrectPasswordMessage,
-      [{
-        text: shared.cancel,
-        onPress: onCancel
-      }, {
-        text: shared.tryAgain,
-        onPress: onTryAgain
-      }]
-    )
-    return false
-  }
+  const connected = await openDb(hash)
+  if (connected) return true
+  Alert.alert(
+    shared.incorrectPassword,
+    shared.incorrectPasswordMessage,
+    [{
+      text: shared.cancel,
+      onPress: onCancel
+    }, {
+      text: shared.tryAgain,
+      onPress: onTryAgain
+    }]
+  )
+  return false
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/db/index.js b/db/index.js
index fe8c269..7722ec9 100644
--- a/db/index.js
+++ b/db/index.js
@@ -10,14 +10,28 @@ let db
 let isMensesStart
 let getMensesDaysRightAfter
 
-export async function openDb ({ hash, persistConnection }) {
+export async function openDb (hash) {
   const realmConfig = {}
   if (hash) {
     realmConfig.encryptionKey = hashToInt8Array(hash)
   }
 
   // perform migrations if necessary, see https://realm.io/docs/javascript/2.8.0/#migrations
+  // we open the db temporarily, to get the schema version even if the db is encrypted
+  let tempConnection
+  try {
+    tempConnection = await Realm.open(realmConfig)
+  } catch(err) {
+    // wrong password provided
+    if (hash && err.toString().includes('decrypt')) return false
+    // tried to open without password, but is encrypted
+    if (!hash && err.toString().includes('Invalid mnemonic')) return false
+
+    throw err
+  }
+
   let nextSchemaIndex = Realm.schemaVersion(Realm.defaultPath)
+  tempConnection.close()
   while (nextSchemaIndex < schemas.length - 1) {
     const tempConfig = Object.assign(
       realmConfig,
@@ -34,10 +48,11 @@ export async function openDb ({ hash, persistConnection }) {
     schemas[schemas.length - 1]
   ))
 
-  if (persistConnection) db = connection
+  db = connection
   const cycle = cycleModule()
   isMensesStart = cycle.isMensesStart
   getMensesDaysRightAfter = cycle.getMensesDaysRightAfter
+  return true
 }
 
 export function getBleedingDaysSortedByDate() {
@@ -212,7 +227,7 @@ export async function changeEncryptionAndRestartApp(hash) {
 export async function deleteDbAndOpenNew() {
   const exists = await fs.exists(Realm.defaultPath)
   if (exists) await fs.unlink(Realm.defaultPath)
-  await openDb({ persistConnection: true })
+  await openDb()
 }
 
 function hashToInt8Array(hash) {