diff --git a/doc/releaseNotes.md b/doc/releaseNotes.md
index 9dc9aa9..9e934f8 100644
--- a/doc/releaseNotes.md
+++ b/doc/releaseNotes.md
@@ -615,3 +615,6 @@ This file describes the main feature changes for each readout.exe released versi
 
 ## v2.23.0 - 18/03/2024
 - Added o2-readout-rawmerger: a utility to concatenate multiple raw files in a single one, e.g. to replay full detector data from a single FLP.
+
+## v2.23.1 - 06/05/2024
+- Fix MySQL 8.0.34 depracation warning for auto-reconnect feature. Functionnality re-implemented locally.
diff --git a/src/ReadoutDatabase.cxx b/src/ReadoutDatabase.cxx
index 79d9b9a..93cb3d7 100644
--- a/src/ReadoutDatabase.cxx
+++ b/src/ReadoutDatabase.cxx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "ReadoutDatabase.h"
 #include <mysql.h>
+#include <mysql/errmsg.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
@@ -8,18 +9,39 @@
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <string>
 #include <map>
+#include <time.h>
 
 #if LIBMYSQL_VERSION_ID >= 80000
 typedef bool my_bool;
 #endif
 
+int ReadoutDatabase::connect() {
+  time_t now = time(NULL);
+  if ((lastConnectTime != 0) && (now < lastConnectTime + reconnectTimeout)) return -2;
+  lastConnectTime = now;
+  if (db != nullptr) {
+    mysql_close(db);
+    db = nullptr;
+  }
+  db = mysql_init(nullptr);
+  if (db == nullptr) {
+    return -1;
+  }
+  if (mysql_real_connect(db,cxDbHost.c_str(),cxDbUser.c_str(),cxDbPwd.c_str(),cxDbName.c_str(),0,nullptr,0) == nullptr) {
+    log(std::string("DB connect error :") + mysql_error(db));
+    return -1;
+  }
+  log("DB connected");
+  lastConnectTime = 0;
+  return 0;
+}
+
 ReadoutDatabase::ReadoutDatabase(const char* cx, int v, const LogCallback& cb) {
   verbose = v;
   theLogCallback = cb;
 
   char *db_db=nullptr, *db_user=nullptr, *db_pwd=nullptr, *db_host=nullptr;
   char *p=nullptr,*ptr,*lptr;
-  my_bool reconnect = 1;
     
   if (cx == nullptr) {
     throw __LINE__;
@@ -50,6 +72,7 @@ ReadoutDatabase::ReadoutDatabase(const char* cx, int v, const LogCallback& cb) {
       break;
     }
   }
+  cxDbUser = db_user;
 
   // pwd 
   for (lptr=ptr;*ptr!=0;ptr++) {
@@ -60,6 +83,7 @@ ReadoutDatabase::ReadoutDatabase(const char* cx, int v, const LogCallback& cb) {
       break;
     }
   }
+  cxDbPwd = db_pwd;
 
   // host
   for (lptr=ptr;*ptr!=0;ptr++) {
@@ -70,6 +94,7 @@ ReadoutDatabase::ReadoutDatabase(const char* cx, int v, const LogCallback& cb) {
       break;
     }
   }
+  cxDbHost = db_host;
 
   // db name
   db_db=ptr;
@@ -82,12 +107,7 @@ ReadoutDatabase::ReadoutDatabase(const char* cx, int v, const LogCallback& cb) {
   log("Using database " + std::string(db_db) + "@" + std::string(db_host));
 
   // try to connect
-  if (mysql_real_connect(db,db_host,db_user,db_pwd,db_db,0,nullptr,0)==nullptr) {
-    goto open_failed;
-  }
-
-
-  if (mysql_options(db, MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT, &reconnect)) {
+  if (this->connect()) {
     goto open_failed;
   }
 
@@ -167,14 +187,27 @@ int ReadoutDatabase::query(int maxRetry, const char *inQuery,...) {
 
   int i;
   for (i=1; i<=maxRetry; i++) {
-    if (mysql_query(db,query)==0)  break;
+    if (mysql_query(db,query) == 0)  break;
     lastError = std::string("DB query error :") + mysql_error(db);
+    log("DB error: " + std::to_string(mysql_errno(db)) + " = " + lastError);
+    if (mysql_errno(db) == CR_SERVER_LOST) {
+      log("DB trying to reconnect");
+      int err = connect();
+      if (err == 0) {
+        continue;
+      } else {
+        if (err == -2) {
+	  log("DB reconnect - need to wait a bit before retry");
+	}
+        return -1;
+      }
+    }
     usleep(retryTimeout);
   }
   if (i > maxRetry) {
     return -1;
   }
-
+  log("DB query success");
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ReadoutDatabase.h b/src/ReadoutDatabase.h
index 3edb811..d4186ae 100644
--- a/src/ReadoutDatabase.h
+++ b/src/ReadoutDatabase.h
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ class ReadoutDatabase {
   uint64_t vRun;
   std::string vRole;
   std::string cxDbName; // name of the database used
+  std::string cxDbUser;
+  std::string cxDbPwd;
+  std::string cxDbHost;
+  time_t lastConnectTime = 0;
+  int reconnectTimeout = 10;
   
   int maxRetry = 20; // number of query retries
   int retryTimeout = 50; // retry interval (milliseconds)
@@ -49,6 +54,8 @@ class ReadoutDatabase {
   LogCallback theLogCallback;
   void log(const std::string &log);
 
+  int connect();
+
   std::string lastError = ""; // error string of last query, if any
   std::string lastQuery = ""; // last query executed  
 };
diff --git a/src/ReadoutVersion.h b/src/ReadoutVersion.h
index 3e23dd8..2664121 100644
--- a/src/ReadoutVersion.h
+++ b/src/ReadoutVersion.h
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@
 // granted to it by virtue of its status as an Intergovernmental Organization
 // or submit itself to any jurisdiction.
 
-#define READOUT_VERSION "2.23.0"
+#define READOUT_VERSION "2.23.1"