diff --git a/i3pystatus/mail/notmuchmail.py b/i3pystatus/mail/notmuchmail.py
index 00e99c0..3919d45 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/mail/notmuchmail.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/mail/notmuchmail.py
@@ -35,11 +35,10 @@ class Notmuch(Backend):
 
             self.db_path = config.get("database", "path")
 
-        self.db = notmuch.Database(self.db_path)
-
     @property
     def unread(self):
-        return notmuch.Query(self.db, "tag:unread and tag:inbox").count_messages()
+        db = notmuch.Database(self.db_path)
+        return notmuch.Query(db, "tag:unread and tag:inbox").count_messages()
 
 
 Backend = Notmuch