diff --git a/src/libstore/sqlite.cc b/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
index 871f2f3be..c57e58fe0 100644
--- a/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/sqlite.cc
@@ -239,14 +239,9 @@ SQLiteTxn::~SQLiteTxn()
     }
 }
 
-void handleSQLiteBusy(const SQLiteBusy & e)
+void handleSQLiteBusy(const SQLiteBusy & e, bool shouldWarn)
 {
-    static std::atomic<time_t> lastWarned{0};
-
-    time_t now = time(0);
-
-    if (now > lastWarned + 10) {
-        lastWarned = now;
+    if (shouldWarn) {
         logWarning({
             .msg = hintfmt(e.what())
         });
diff --git a/src/libstore/sqlite.hh b/src/libstore/sqlite.hh
index b735838ec..e2c9e28f8 100644
--- a/src/libstore/sqlite.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/sqlite.hh
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ protected:
 
 MakeError(SQLiteBusy, SQLiteError);
 
-void handleSQLiteBusy(const SQLiteBusy & e);
+void handleSQLiteBusy(const SQLiteBusy & e, bool shouldWarn);
 
 /**
  * Convenience function for retrying a SQLite transaction when the
@@ -148,11 +148,22 @@ void handleSQLiteBusy(const SQLiteBusy & e);
 template<typename T, typename F>
 T retrySQLite(F && fun)
 {
+    time_t nextWarning = time(0) + 1;
+
     while (true) {
         try {
             return fun();
+
         } catch (SQLiteBusy & e) {
-            handleSQLiteBusy(e);
+            time_t now = time(0);
+            bool shouldWarn = false;
+
+            if (now > nextWarning) {
+                nextWarning = now + 10;
+                shouldWarn = true;
+            }
+
+            handleSQLiteBusy(e, shouldWarn);
         }
     }
 }