diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DatabaseException.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DatabaseException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d2e524
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DatabaseException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+//
+// $Id$
+//
+// samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
+// Copyright (C) 2001-2008 Michael Bayne
+// 
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.samskivert.jdbc.depot;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a failure reported by the underlying database.
+ */
+public class DatabaseException extends RuntimeException
+{
+    /**
+     * Constructs a database exception with the specified error message.
+     */
+    public DatabaseException (String message)
+    {
+        super(message);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs a database exception with the specified error message and the chained causing
+     * event.
+     */
+    public DatabaseException (String message, Throwable cause)
+    {
+        super(message);
+        initCause(cause);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs a database exception with the specified chained causing event.
+     */
+    public DatabaseException (Throwable cause)
+    {
+        initCause(cause);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotMarshaller.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotMarshaller.java
index f21456e..716b999 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotMarshaller.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotMarshaller.java
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
-import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.annotation.Computed;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.annotation.Entity;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.annotation.FullTextIndex;
@@ -525,7 +524,7 @@ public class DepotMarshaller<T extends PersistentRecord>
      * database schema, it will be migrated.
      */
     protected void init (PersistenceContext ctx)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         if (_initialized) { // sanity check
             throw new IllegalStateException(
@@ -632,7 +631,7 @@ public class DepotMarshaller<T extends PersistentRecord>
                 log.info("Waiting for migration lock for " + _pClass.getName() + ".");
                 Thread.sleep(5000);
             } catch (InterruptedException ie) {
-                throw new PersistenceException("Interrupted while waiting for migration lock.");
+                throw new DatabaseException("Interrupted while waiting for migration lock.");
             }
         }
 
@@ -672,7 +671,7 @@ public class DepotMarshaller<T extends PersistentRecord>
 
     protected void createTable (PersistenceContext ctx, final SQLBuilder builder,
                                 final ColumnDefinition[] declarations)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         log.info("Creating initial table '" + getTableName() + "'.");
 
@@ -721,7 +720,7 @@ public class DepotMarshaller<T extends PersistentRecord>
 
     protected void runMigrations (PersistenceContext ctx, TableMetaData metaData,
                                   final SQLBuilder builder, int currentVersion)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         log.info("Migrating " + getTableName() + " from " + currentVersion + " to " +
                  _schemaVersion + "...");
@@ -928,7 +927,7 @@ public class DepotMarshaller<T extends PersistentRecord>
      * Checks that there are no database columns for which we no longer have Java fields.
      */
     protected void checkForStaleness (TableMetaData meta, PersistenceContext ctx, SQLBuilder builder)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         for (String fname : _columnFields) {
             FieldMarshaller<?> fmarsh = _fields.get(fname);
@@ -992,7 +991,7 @@ public class DepotMarshaller<T extends PersistentRecord>
         public Set<String> pkColumns = new HashSet<String>();
 
         public static TableMetaData load (PersistenceContext ctx, final String tableName)
-            throws PersistenceException
+            throws DatabaseException
         {
             return ctx.invoke(new Query.TrivialQuery<TableMetaData>() {
                 @Override public TableMetaData invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison dl)
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotRepository.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotRepository.java
index 7297176..ff54738 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotRepository.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotRepository.java
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
-import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 import com.samskivert.util.ArrayUtil;
 
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.ConnectionProvider;
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> T load (Class<T> type, Comparable<?> primaryKey,
                                                    QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         clauses = ArrayUtil.append(clauses, _ctx.getMarshaller(type).makePrimaryKey(primaryKey));
         return load(type, clauses);
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> T load (Class<T> type, String ix, Comparable<?> val,
                                                    QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         clauses = ArrayUtil.append(clauses, new Key<T>(type, ix, val));
         return load(type, clauses);
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> T load (Class<T> type, String ix1, Comparable<?> val1,
                                                    String ix2, Comparable<?> val2,
                                                    QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         clauses = ArrayUtil.append(clauses, new Key<T>(type, ix1, val1, ix2, val2));
         return load(type, clauses);
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> T load (Class<T> type, String ix1, Comparable<?> val1,
                                                    String ix2, Comparable<?> val2, String ix3,
                                                    Comparable<?> val3, QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         clauses = ArrayUtil.append(clauses, new Key<T>(type, ix1, val1, ix2, val2, ix3, val3));
         return load(type, clauses);
@@ -127,7 +126,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> T load (
         Class<T> type, Collection<? extends QueryClause> clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return load(type, clauses.toArray(new QueryClause[clauses.size()]));
     }
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * Loads the first persistent object that matches the supplied query clauses.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> T load (Class<T> type, QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return _ctx.invoke(new FindOneQuery<T>(_ctx, type, clauses));
     }
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> List<T> findAll (
         Class<T> type, Collection<? extends QueryClause> clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         DepotMarshaller<T> marsh = _ctx.getMarshaller(type);
         boolean useExplicit =
@@ -175,7 +174,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * A varargs version of {@link #findAll(Class<T>,Collection<QueryClause>)}.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> List<T> findAll (Class<T> type, QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return findAll(type, Arrays.asList(clauses));
     }
@@ -187,7 +186,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return the number of rows modified by this action, this should always be one.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int insert (T record)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") final Class<T> pClass = (Class<T>) record.getClass();
         final DepotMarshaller<T> marsh = _ctx.getMarshaller(pClass);
@@ -238,7 +237,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return the number of rows modified by this action.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int update (T record)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") Class<T> pClass = (Class<T>) record.getClass();
         requireNotComputed(pClass, "update");
@@ -275,7 +274,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return the number of rows modified by this action.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int update (T record, final String... modifiedFields)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
         Class<T> pClass = (Class<T>) record.getClass();
@@ -322,7 +321,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updatePartial (
         Class<T> type, Comparable<?> primaryKey, Map<String,Object> updates)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         Object[] fieldsValues = new Object[updates.size()*2];
         int idx = 0;
@@ -345,7 +344,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updatePartial (
         Class<T> type, Comparable<?> primaryKey, Object... fieldsValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return updatePartial(_ctx.getMarshaller(type).makePrimaryKey(primaryKey), fieldsValues);
     }
@@ -364,7 +363,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updatePartial (
         Class<T> type, String ix1, Comparable<?> val1, String ix2, Comparable<?> val2,
         Object... fieldsValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return updatePartial(new Key<T>(type, ix1, val1, ix2, val2), fieldsValues);
     }
@@ -383,7 +382,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updatePartial (
         Class<T> type, String ix1, Comparable<?> val1, String ix2, Comparable<?> val2,
         String ix3, Comparable<?> val3, Object... fieldsValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return updatePartial(new Key<T>(type, ix1, val1, ix2, val2, ix3, val3), fieldsValues);
     }
@@ -398,7 +397,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return the number of rows modified by this action.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updatePartial (Key<T> key, Object... fieldsValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return updatePartial(key.condition.getPersistentClass(), key, key, fieldsValues);
     }
@@ -420,7 +419,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updatePartial (
         Class<T> type, final WhereClause key, CacheInvalidator invalidator, Object... fieldsValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         if (invalidator instanceof ValidatingCacheInvalidator) {
             ((ValidatingCacheInvalidator)invalidator).validateFlushType(type); // sanity check
@@ -470,7 +469,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updateLiteral (
         Class<T> type, Comparable<?> primaryKey, Map<String, SQLExpression> fieldsToValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         Key<T> key = _ctx.getMarshaller(type).makePrimaryKey(primaryKey);
         return updateLiteral(type, key, key, fieldsToValues);
@@ -496,7 +495,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updateLiteral (
         Class<T> type, String ix1, Comparable<?> val1, String ix2, Comparable<?> val2,
         Map<String, SQLExpression> fieldsToValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         Key<T> key = new Key<T>(type, ix1, val1, ix2, val2);
         return updateLiteral(type, key, key, fieldsToValues);
@@ -522,7 +521,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updateLiteral (
         Class<T> type, String ix1, Comparable<?> val1, String ix2, Comparable<?> val2,
         String ix3, Comparable<?> val3, Map<String, SQLExpression> fieldsToValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         Key<T> key = new Key<T>(type, ix1, val1, ix2, val2, ix3, val3);
         return updateLiteral(type, key, key, fieldsToValues);
@@ -548,7 +547,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int updateLiteral (
         Class<T> type, final WhereClause key, CacheInvalidator invalidator,
         Map<String, SQLExpression> fieldsToValues)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         requireNotComputed(type, "updateLiteral");
 
@@ -592,7 +591,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return true if the record was created, false if it was updated.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> boolean store (T record)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") final Class<T> pClass = (Class<T>) record.getClass();
         requireNotComputed(pClass, "store");
@@ -665,7 +664,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return the number of rows deleted by this action.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int delete (T record)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") Class<T> type = (Class<T>)record.getClass();
         Key<T> primaryKey = _ctx.getMarshaller(type).getPrimaryKey(record);
@@ -683,7 +682,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int delete (
         Class<T> type, Comparable<?> primaryKeyValue)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return delete(type, _ctx.getMarshaller(type).makePrimaryKey(primaryKeyValue));
     }
@@ -695,7 +694,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      * @return the number of rows deleted by this action.
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int delete (Class<T> type, Key<T> primaryKey)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return deleteAll(type, primaryKey, primaryKey);
     }
@@ -707,7 +706,7 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
      */
     protected <T extends PersistentRecord> int deleteAll (
         Class<T> type, final WhereClause key, CacheInvalidator invalidator)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         if (invalidator instanceof ValidatingCacheInvalidator) {
             ((ValidatingCacheInvalidator)invalidator).validateFlushType(type); // sanity check
@@ -733,14 +732,14 @@ public abstract class DepotRepository
 
     // make sure the given type corresponds to a concrete class
     protected void requireNotComputed (Class<? extends PersistentRecord> type, String action)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         DepotMarshaller<?> marsh = _ctx.getMarshaller(type);
         if (marsh == null) {
-            throw new PersistenceException("Unknown persistent type [class=" + type + "]");
+            throw new DatabaseException("Unknown persistent type [class=" + type + "]");
         }
         if (marsh.getTableName() == null) {
-            throw new PersistenceException(
+            throw new DatabaseException(
                 "Can't " + action + " computed entities [class=" + type + "]");
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotTypes.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotTypes.java
index e416636..d51f9c1 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotTypes.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DepotTypes.java
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
-import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.clause.QueryClause;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.expression.SQLExpression;
 
@@ -40,9 +39,9 @@ import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.expression.SQLExpression;
  * constructed.
  *
  * The main motivation for breaking this functionality out into its own class is to encapsulate the
- * operation that throws {@link PersistenceException} as separate from the operations that throw
+ * operation that throws {@link DatabaseException} as separate from the operations that throw
  * {@link SQLException}. Once this class has been constructed, it may be used to create {@link
- * SQLBuilder} instances without any {@link PersistenceException} worries.
+ * SQLBuilder} instances without any {@link DatabaseException} worries.
  */
 public class DepotTypes
 {
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ public class DepotTypes
      */
     public static <T extends PersistentRecord> DepotTypes getDepotTypes (
         PersistenceContext ctx, Collection<? extends QueryClause> clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         Set<Class<? extends PersistentRecord>> classSet =
             new HashSet<Class<? extends PersistentRecord>>();
@@ -73,7 +72,7 @@ public class DepotTypes
      */
     public static <T extends PersistentRecord> DepotTypes getDepotTypes (
         PersistenceContext ctx, QueryClause... clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         return getDepotTypes(ctx, Arrays.asList(clauses));
     }
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ public class DepotTypes
      * persistent record classes.
      */
     public DepotTypes (PersistenceContext ctx, Collection<Class<? extends PersistentRecord>> others)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         for (Class<? extends PersistentRecord> c : others) {
             addClass(ctx, c);
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ public class DepotTypes
      * persistent record.
      */
     public DepotTypes (PersistenceContext ctx, Class<? extends PersistentRecord> pClass)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         addClass(ctx, pClass);
     }
@@ -165,7 +164,7 @@ public class DepotTypes
      * Register a new persistent class with this object.
      */
     public void addClass (PersistenceContext ctx, Class <? extends PersistentRecord> type)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         if (_classMap.containsKey(type)) {
             return;
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DuplicateKeyException.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DuplicateKeyException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9096089
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/DuplicateKeyException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+//
+// $Id$
+//
+// samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
+// Copyright (C) 2001-2008 Michael Bayne
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.samskivert.jdbc.depot;
+
+/**
+ * Thrown when an insert or update results in a duplicate key on a column that has a uniqueness
+ * constraint.
+ */
+public class DuplicateKeyException extends DatabaseException
+{
+    public DuplicateKeyException (String message)
+    {
+        super(message);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FieldMarshaller.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FieldMarshaller.java
index 6628749..3d7b672 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FieldMarshaller.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FieldMarshaller.java
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import java.sql.SQLException;
 import java.sql.Time;
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
 
-import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.ColumnDefinition;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.annotation.Column;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.annotation.Computed;
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ public abstract class FieldMarshaller<T>
      * definition according to the appropriate database dialect.
      */
     public void init (SQLBuilder builder)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         _columnDefinition = builder.buildColumnDefinition(this);
     }
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindAllQuery.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindAllQuery.java
index 976299d..6ee84cb 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindAllQuery.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindAllQuery.java
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
-import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
-
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.DatabaseLiaison;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.JDBCUtil;
 
@@ -63,7 +61,7 @@ public abstract class FindAllQuery<T extends PersistentRecord>
     {
         public WithCache (PersistenceContext ctx, Class<T> type,
                           Collection<? extends QueryClause> clauses)
-            throws PersistenceException
+            throws DatabaseException
         {
             super(ctx, type);
 
@@ -84,7 +82,8 @@ public abstract class FindAllQuery<T extends PersistentRecord>
             _clauses = clauses;
         }
 
-        public List<T> invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison) throws SQLException
+        public List<T> invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
+            throws SQLException
         {
             Map<Key<T>, T> entities = new HashMap<Key<T>, T>();
             List<Key<T>> allKeys = new ArrayList<Key<T>>();
@@ -205,7 +204,7 @@ public abstract class FindAllQuery<T extends PersistentRecord>
     {
         public Explicitly (PersistenceContext ctx, Class<T> type,
                            Collection<? extends QueryClause> clauses)
-            throws PersistenceException
+            throws DatabaseException
         {
             super(ctx, type);
             SelectClause<T> select = new SelectClause<T>(type, _marsh.getFieldNames(), clauses);
@@ -213,7 +212,8 @@ public abstract class FindAllQuery<T extends PersistentRecord>
             _builder.newQuery(select);
         }
 
-        public List<T> invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison) throws SQLException
+        public List<T> invoke (Connection conn, DatabaseLiaison liaison)
+            throws SQLException
         {
             List<T> result = new ArrayList<T>();
             PreparedStatement stmt = _builder.prepare(conn);
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ public abstract class FindAllQuery<T extends PersistentRecord>
     }
 
     public FindAllQuery (PersistenceContext ctx, Class<T> type)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         _ctx = ctx;
         _type = type;
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindOneQuery.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindOneQuery.java
index 7bf34fc..a9b82f9 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindOneQuery.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/FindOneQuery.java
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ import java.sql.PreparedStatement;
 import java.sql.ResultSet;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
 
-import com.samskivert.io.PersistenceException;
-
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.DatabaseLiaison;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.JDBCUtil;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.depot.clause.QueryClause;
@@ -39,7 +37,7 @@ public class FindOneQuery<T extends PersistentRecord>
     implements Query<T>
 {
     public FindOneQuery (PersistenceContext ctx, Class<T> type, QueryClause[] clauses)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         _marsh = ctx.getMarshaller(type);
         _select = new SelectClause<T>(type, _marsh.getFieldNames(), clauses);
diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/PersistenceContext.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/PersistenceContext.java
index 0e376a0..7964237 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/PersistenceContext.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/depot/PersistenceContext.java
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
 
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.ConnectionProvider;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.DatabaseLiaison;
-import com.samskivert.jdbc.DuplicateKeyException;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.LiaisonRegistry;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.MySQLLiaison;
 import com.samskivert.jdbc.PostgreSQLLiaison;
@@ -219,7 +218,7 @@ public class PersistenceContext
      * it if necessary.
      */
     public <T extends PersistentRecord> DepotMarshaller<T> getMarshaller (Class<T> type)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         DepotMarshaller<T> marshaller = getRawMarshaller(type);
         try {
@@ -231,8 +230,8 @@ public class PersistenceContext
                     log.warning("Record initialized lazily [type=" + type.getName() + "].");
                 }
             }
-        } catch (PersistenceException pe) {
-            throw (PersistenceException)new PersistenceException(
+        } catch (DatabaseException pe) {
+            throw (DatabaseException)new DatabaseException(
                 "Failed to initialize marshaller [type=" + type + "].").initCause(pe);
         }
         return marshaller;
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@ public class PersistenceContext
      * Invokes a non-modifying query and returns its result.
      */
     public <T> T invoke (Query<T> query)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         CacheKey key = query.getCacheKey();
         // if there is a cache key, check the cache
@@ -270,7 +269,7 @@ public class PersistenceContext
      * Invokes a modifying query and returns the number of rows modified.
      */
     public int invoke (Modifier modifier)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         modifier.cacheInvalidation(this);
         int rows = (Integer) invoke(null, modifier, true);
@@ -456,7 +455,7 @@ public class PersistenceContext
      * to ensure that those records are properly registered prior to this call.
      */
     public void initializeManagedRecords (boolean warnOnLazyInit)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         for (Class<? extends PersistentRecord> rclass : _managedRecords) {
             getMarshaller(rclass);
@@ -495,10 +494,16 @@ public class PersistenceContext
      */
     protected <T> Object invoke (
         Query<T> query, Modifier modifier, boolean retryOnTransientFailure)
-        throws PersistenceException
+        throws DatabaseException
     {
         boolean isReadOnlyQuery = (query != null);
-        Connection conn = _conprov.getConnection(_ident, isReadOnlyQuery);
+        Connection conn;
+        try {
+            conn = _conprov.getConnection(_ident, isReadOnlyQuery);
+        } catch (PersistenceException pe) {
+            throw new DatabaseException(pe.getMessage(), pe.getCause());
+        }
+
         // TEMP: we synchronize on the connection to cooperate with SimpleRepository when used in
         // conjunction with a StaticConnectionProvider; at some point we'll switch to standard JDBC
         // connection pooling which will block in getConnection() instead of returning a connection
@@ -538,7 +543,7 @@ public class PersistenceContext
                 } else {
                     String msg = isReadOnlyQuery ?
                         "Query failure " + query : "Modifier failure " + modifier;
-                    throw new PersistenceException(msg, sqe);
+                    throw new DatabaseException(msg, sqe);
                 }
 
             } finally {