diff --git a/src/paperless/consumers.py b/src/paperless/consumers.py
index c72b58aa7..8a58fce99 100644
--- a/src/paperless/consumers.py
+++ b/src/paperless/consumers.py
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 import json
+import logging
 
 from asgiref.sync import async_to_sync
 from channels.exceptions import AcceptConnection
 from channels.exceptions import DenyConnection
 from channels.generic.websocket import WebsocketConsumer
+from django.db import close_old_connections
+from django.db import connections
+
+logger = logging.getLogger("paperless.websockets")
 
 
 class StatusConsumer(WebsocketConsumer):
@@ -20,7 +25,14 @@ class StatusConsumer(WebsocketConsumer):
             else True
         )
 
+    def _discard_database_connections(self):
+        logger.debug("Discarding %s database connections...", len(connections.all()))
+        for conn in connections.all():
+            conn.close()
+
     def connect(self):
+        logger.debug("Connecting ws...")
+        close_old_connections()
         if not self._authenticated():
             raise DenyConnection
         else:
@@ -31,11 +43,17 @@ class StatusConsumer(WebsocketConsumer):
             raise AcceptConnection
 
     def disconnect(self, close_code):
+        logger.debug("Disconnecting ws...")
+        self._discard_database_connections()
         async_to_sync(self.channel_layer.group_discard)(
             "status_updates",
             self.channel_name,
         )
 
+    def close(self, code=None, reason=None):
+        self._discard_database_connections()
+        return super().close(code, reason)
+
     def status_update(self, event):
         if not self._authenticated():
             self.close()