diff --git a/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp b/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp
index 0718a51686a64..089dc0d48bf32 100644
--- a/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp
+++ b/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp
@@ -1722,7 +1722,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::deleteStaleFlagsEntries()
 
     SqlQuery delQuery("DELETE FROM flags WHERE path != '' AND path NOT IN (SELECT path from metadata);", _db);
     if (!delQuery.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("deleteStaleFlagsEntries") << delQuery.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("deleteStaleFlagsEntries"), delQuery);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1865,7 +1865,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::setPollInfo(const SyncJournalDb::PollInfo &info)
         SqlQuery query("DELETE FROM async_poll WHERE path=?", _db);
         query.bindValue(1, info._file);
         if (!query.exec()) {
-            qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("setPollInfo DELETE FROM async_poll") << query.error();
+            sqlFail(QStringLiteral("setPollInfo DELETE FROM async_poll"), query);
         }
     } else {
         SqlQuery query("INSERT OR REPLACE INTO async_poll (path, modtime, filesize, pollpath) VALUES( ? , ? , ? , ? )", _db);
@@ -1874,7 +1874,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::setPollInfo(const SyncJournalDb::PollInfo &info)
         query.bindValue(3, info._fileSize);
         query.bindValue(4, info._url);
         if (!query.exec()) {
-            qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("setPollInfo INSERT OR REPLACE INTO async_poll") << query.error();
+            sqlFail(QStringLiteral("setPollInfo INSERT OR REPLACE INTO async_poll"), query);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1963,7 +1963,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::avoidRenamesOnNextSync(const QByteArray &path)
     query.bindValue(1, path);
 
     if (!query.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("avoidRenamesOnNextSync path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(path)) << query.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("avoidRenamesOnNextSync path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(path)), query);
     }
 
     // We also need to remove the ETags so the update phase refreshes the directory paths
@@ -1991,7 +1991,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::schedulePathForRemoteDiscovery(const QByteArray &fileName)
     query.bindValue(1, argument);
 
     if (!query.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("schedulePathForRemoteDiscovery path: %11").arg(QString::fromUtf8(fileName)) << query.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("schedulePathForRemoteDiscovery path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(fileName)), query);
     }
 
     // Prevent future overwrite of the etags of this folder and all
@@ -2023,7 +2023,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::forceRemoteDiscoveryNextSyncLocked()
     deleteRemoteFolderEtagsQuery.prepare("UPDATE metadata SET md5='_invalid_' WHERE type=2;");
 
     if (!deleteRemoteFolderEtagsQuery.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("forceRemoteDiscoveryNextSyncLocked") << deleteRemoteFolderEtagsQuery.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("forceRemoteDiscoveryNextSyncLocked"), deleteRemoteFolderEtagsQuery);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2233,7 +2233,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::clearFileTable()
     query.prepare("DELETE FROM metadata;");
 
     if (!query.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("clearFileTable") << query.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("clearFileTable"), query);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2250,7 +2250,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::markVirtualFileForDownloadRecursively(const QByteArray &path
     query.bindValue(1, path);
 
     if (!query.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("markVirtualFileForDownloadRecursively UPDATE metadata SET type=5 path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(path)) << query.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("markVirtualFileForDownloadRecursively UPDATE metadata SET type=5 path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(path)), query);
     }
 
     // We also must make sure we do not read the files from the database (same logic as in schedulePathForRemoteDiscovery)
@@ -2261,7 +2261,7 @@ void SyncJournalDb::markVirtualFileForDownloadRecursively(const QByteArray &path
     query.bindValue(1, path);
 
     if (!query.exec()) {
-        qCWarning(lcDb) << QStringLiteral("markVirtualFileForDownloadRecursively UPDATE metadata SET md5='_invalid_' path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(path)) << query.error();
+        sqlFail(QStringLiteral("markVirtualFileForDownloadRecursively UPDATE metadata SET md5='_invalid_' path: %1").arg(QString::fromUtf8(path)), query);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2395,6 +2395,8 @@ SyncJournalDb::PinStateInterface::rawList()
 
     if (!query.exec()) {
         qCWarning(lcDb) << "SQL Error" << "PinStateInterface::rawList" << query.error();
+        _db->close();
+        ASSERT(false);
     }
 
     QVector<QPair<QByteArray, PinState>> result;
diff --git a/src/gui/folder.cpp b/src/gui/folder.cpp
index 96450f1cdf8fa..cc3d06291acba 100644
--- a/src/gui/folder.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/folder.cpp
@@ -626,6 +626,7 @@ void Folder::implicitlyHydrateFile(const QString &relativepath)
     ;
     if (!_journal.getFileRecord(relativepath.toUtf8(), &record)) {
         qCWarning(lcFolder) << "could not get file from local DB" << relativepath;
+        return;
     }
     if (!record.isValid()) {
         qCInfo(lcFolder) << "Did not find file in db";
@@ -641,6 +642,7 @@ void Folder::implicitlyHydrateFile(const QString &relativepath)
     const auto result = _journal.setFileRecord(record);
     if (!result) {
         qCWarning(lcFolder) << "Error when setting the file record to the database" << record._path << result.error();
+        return;
     }
 
     // Change the file's pin state if it's contradictory to being hydrated
diff --git a/src/libsync/discovery.cpp b/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
index 4b5e289dd91f7..b1cc7021d07e5 100644
--- a/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
@@ -900,6 +900,7 @@ void ProcessDirectoryJob::processFileAnalyzeLocalInfo(
             // Not locally, not on the server. The entry is stale!
             qCInfo(lcDisco) << "Stale DB entry";
             if (!_discoveryData->_statedb->deleteFileRecord(path._original, true)) {
+                _discoveryData->fatalError(tr("Error while deleting file record %1 from the database").arg(path._original));
                 qCWarning(lcDisco) << "Failed to delete a file record from the local DB" << path._original;
             }
             return;
diff --git a/src/libsync/owncloudpropagator.cpp b/src/libsync/owncloudpropagator.cpp
index 7cdf54aae370a..a4014db654179 100644
--- a/src/libsync/owncloudpropagator.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/owncloudpropagator.cpp
@@ -1197,6 +1197,13 @@ void PropagateDirectory::slotSubJobsFinished(SyncFileItem::Status status)
         if (_item->_instruction == CSYNC_INSTRUCTION_RENAME && _item->_originalFile != _item->_renameTarget) {
             if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(_item->_originalFile, true)) {
                 qCWarning(lcDirectory) << "could not delete file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+                _state = Finished;
+                status = _item->_status = SyncFileItem::FatalError;
+                _item->_errorString = tr("could not delete file %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile);
+                qCInfo(lcPropagator) << "PropagateDirectory::slotSubJobsFinished"
+                                     << "emit finished" << status;
+                emit finished(status);
+                return;
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp b/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp
index 4d6a0e8cf4785..088ce72895625 100644
--- a/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/propagatedownload.cpp
@@ -461,6 +461,8 @@ void PropagateDownloadFile::start()
     SyncJournalFileRecord parentRec;
     if (!propagator()->_journal->getFileRecord(parentPath, &parentRec)) {
         qCWarning(lcPropagateDownload) << "could not get file from local DB" << parentPath;
+        done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("could not get file %1 from local DB").arg(parentPath));
+        return;
     }
 
     const auto account = propagator()->account();
@@ -507,6 +509,8 @@ void PropagateDownloadFile::startAfterIsEncryptedIsChecked()
 
         if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(_item->_originalFile)) {
             qCWarning(lcPropagateDownload) << "could not delete file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+            done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("Could not delete file record %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+            return;
         }
 
         updateMetadata(false);
@@ -1245,6 +1249,8 @@ void PropagateDownloadFile::downloadFinished()
 
             if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(virtualFile)) {
                 qCWarning(lcPropagateDownload) << "could not delete file from local DB" << virtualFile;
+                done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("Could not delete file record %1 from local DB").arg(virtualFile));
+                return;
             }
 
             // Move the pin state to the new location
diff --git a/src/libsync/propagateremotedelete.cpp b/src/libsync/propagateremotedelete.cpp
index b1a8285346b07..ddf3f11f79c3c 100644
--- a/src/libsync/propagateremotedelete.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/propagateremotedelete.cpp
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ void PropagateRemoteDelete::slotDeleteJobFinished()
 
     if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(_item->_originalFile, _item->isDirectory())) {
         qCWarning(lcPropagateRemoteDelete) << "could not delete file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+        done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("Could not delete file record %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+        return;
     }
 
     propagator()->_journal->commit("Remote Remove");
diff --git a/src/libsync/propagateremotemove.cpp b/src/libsync/propagateremotemove.cpp
index e75fb4aa87bc3..882d7e077bd8b 100644
--- a/src/libsync/propagateremotemove.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/propagateremotemove.cpp
@@ -247,6 +247,8 @@ void PropagateRemoteMove::finalize()
     SyncJournalFileRecord oldRecord;
     if (!propagator()->_journal->getFileRecord(_item->_originalFile, &oldRecord)) {
         qCWarning(lcPropagateRemoteMove) << "could not get file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+        done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("could not get file %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+        return;
     }
     auto &vfs = propagator()->syncOptions()._vfs;
     auto pinState = vfs->pinState(_item->_originalFile);
@@ -257,6 +259,8 @@ void PropagateRemoteMove::finalize()
         // Delete old db data.
         if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(_item->_originalFile)) {
             qCWarning(lcPropagateRemoteMove) << "could not delete file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+            done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("Could not delete file record %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+            return;
         }
         if (!vfs->setPinState(_item->_originalFile, PinState::Inherited)) {
             qCWarning(lcPropagateRemoteMove) << "Could not set pin state of" << _item->_originalFile << "to inherited";
diff --git a/src/libsync/propagatorjobs.cpp b/src/libsync/propagatorjobs.cpp
index 4912bc1a1985f..8f57eb18d3071 100644
--- a/src/libsync/propagatorjobs.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/propagatorjobs.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ void PropagateLocalRemove::start()
     propagator()->reportProgress(*_item, 0);
     if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(_item->_originalFile, _item->isDirectory())) {
         qCWarning(lcPropagateLocalRename) << "could not delete file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+        done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("Could not delete file record %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+        return;
     }
     propagator()->_journal->commit("Local remove");
     done(SyncFileItem::Success);
@@ -249,9 +251,13 @@ void PropagateLocalRename::start()
     SyncJournalFileRecord oldRecord;
     if (!propagator()->_journal->getFileRecord(_item->_originalFile, &oldRecord)) {
         qCWarning(lcPropagateLocalRename) << "could not get file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+        done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("could not get file %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+        return;
     }
     if (!propagator()->_journal->deleteFileRecord(_item->_originalFile)) {
         qCWarning(lcPropagateLocalRename) << "could not delete file from local DB" << _item->_originalFile;
+        done(SyncFileItem::NormalError, tr("Could not delete file record %1 from local DB").arg(_item->_originalFile));
+        return;
     }
 
     auto &vfs = propagator()->syncOptions()._vfs;
diff --git a/src/libsync/syncengine.cpp b/src/libsync/syncengine.cpp
index 70c7143498e1a..2ac96dedc50de 100644
--- a/src/libsync/syncengine.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/syncengine.cpp
@@ -377,6 +377,9 @@ void OCC::SyncEngine::slotItemDiscovered(const OCC::SyncFileItemPtr &item)
 
             // Updating the db happens on success
             if (!_journal->setFileRecord(rec)) {
+                item->_status = SyncFileItem::Status::NormalError;
+                item->_instruction = CSYNC_INSTRUCTION_ERROR;
+                item->_errorString = tr("Could not set file record to local DB: %1").arg(rec.path());
                 qCWarning(lcEngine) << "Could not set file record to local DB" << rec.path();
             }
 
diff --git a/src/libsync/vfs/cfapi/hydrationjob.cpp b/src/libsync/vfs/cfapi/hydrationjob.cpp
index ea77281527d04..26c8a19e74233 100644
--- a/src/libsync/vfs/cfapi/hydrationjob.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/vfs/cfapi/hydrationjob.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ void OCC::HydrationJob::finalize(OCC::VfsCfApi *vfs)
     SyncJournalFileRecord record;
     if (!_journal->getFileRecord(_folderPath, &record)) {
         qCWarning(lcHydration) << "could not get file from local DB" << _folderPath;
+        return;
     }
     Q_ASSERT(record.isValid());
     if (!record.isValid()) {