diff --git a/config/roles/databaseserver/tools/rk_db_setpwd.py b/config/roles/databaseserver/tools/rk_db_setpwd.py
index 3f11e4b..c7fecaa 100755
--- a/config/roles/databaseserver/tools/rk_db_setpwd.py
+++ b/config/roles/databaseserver/tools/rk_db_setpwd.py
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ def main():
 
     # Connect to the local database via 'peer'
     conn = psycopg2.connect(database=args.database)
+    conn.autocommit = True
     log.info1("Connected to local database '%s'" % args.database)
     cur = conn.cursor()