diff --git a/basis/db/db.factor b/basis/db/db.factor
index 3c924e4698..da0cb9f42b 100644
--- a/basis/db/db.factor
+++ b/basis/db/db.factor
@@ -145,8 +145,11 @@ M: db-connection rollback-transaction ( -- ) "ROLLBACK" sql-command ;
 
 : in-transaction? ( -- ? ) in-transaction get ;
 
-: with-transaction ( quot -- )
+: (with-transaction) ( quot -- )
     t in-transaction [
-        begin-transaction
-        [ ] [ rollback-transaction ] cleanup commit-transaction
+        begin-transaction [ ] [ rollback-transaction ] cleanup
+        commit-transaction
     ] with-variable ; inline
+
+: with-transaction ( quot -- )
+    in-transaction get [ (with-transaction) ] unless ; inline