diff --git a/database-plain.c b/database-plain.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65ab6e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/database-plain.c
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/* See LICENSE file for license and copyright information */
+
+#include <glib.h>
+#include <girara.h>
+
+#include "database.h"
+
+struct zathura_database_s
+{
+  void* tmp;
+};
+
+zathura_database_t*
+zathura_db_init(const char* dir)
+{
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+void
+zathura_db_free(zathura_database_t* db)
+{
+}
+
+bool
+zathura_db_add_bookmark(zathura_database_t* db, const char* file,
+    zathura_bookmark_t* bookmark)
+{
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool
+zathura_db_remove_bookmark(zathura_database_t* db, const char* file, const char*
+    id)
+{
+  return false;
+}
+
+girara_list_t*
+zathura_db_load_bookmarks(zathura_database_t* db, const char* file)
+{
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+bool
+zathura_db_set_fileinfo(zathura_database_t* db, const char* file, unsigned int
+    page, int offset, float scale)
+{
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool
+zathura_db_get_fileinfo(zathura_database_t* db, const char* file, unsigned int*
+    page, int* offset, float* scale)
+{
+  return false;
+}
diff --git a/database-sqlite.c b/database-sqlite.c
index 32f450b..9da20ed 100644
--- a/database-sqlite.c
+++ b/database-sqlite.c
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ struct zathura_database_s
 zathura_database_t*
 zathura_db_init(const char* dir)
 {
+  if (dir == NULL) {
+    goto error_ret;
+  }
+
   char* path = g_build_filename(dir, DATABASE, NULL);
   if (path == NULL) {
     goto error_ret;