diff --git a/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php b/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php
index 9bc2c96753..3b6232d091 100644
--- a/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php
+++ b/tests/test_framework/phpbb_functional_test_case.php
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ class phpbb_functional_test_case extends phpbb_test_case
 {
 	protected $client;
 	protected $root_url;
+
 	protected $cache = null;
+	protected $db = null;
 
 	/**
 	* Session ID for current test's session (each test makes its own)
@@ -70,6 +72,23 @@ class phpbb_functional_test_case extends phpbb_test_case
 	{
 	}
 
+	protected function get_db()
+	{
+		global $phpbb_root_path, $phpEx;
+		// so we don't reopen an open connection
+		if (!($this->db instanceof dbal))
+		{
+			if (!class_exists('dbal_' . self::$config['dbms']))
+			{
+				include($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/db/' . self::$config['dbms'] . ".$phpEx");
+			}
+			$sql_db = 'dbal_' . self::$config['dbms'];
+			$this->db = new $sql_db();
+			$this->db->sql_connect(self::$config['dbhost'], self::$config['dbuser'], self::$config['dbpasswd'], self::$config['dbname'], self::$config['dbport']);
+		}
+		return $this->db;
+	}
+
 	protected function get_cache_driver()
 	{
 		if (!$this->cache)