diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 143afc5..dd11fc8 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 	path = lib/packed
 	url = git@github.com:emacscollective/packed.git
 [submodule "sqlite3"]
+	build-step = make
 	path = lib/sqlite3
 	url = git@github.com:pekingduck/emacs-sqlite3-api.git
 [submodule "transient"]
diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index 5e9268e..7de459b 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -46,8 +46,11 @@
 
 (use-package epkg
   :defer t
-  :init (setq epkg-repository
-              (expand-file-name "var/epkgs/" user-emacs-directory)))
+  :init
+  (setq epkg-repository
+        (expand-file-name "var/epkgs/" user-emacs-directory))
+  (setq epkg-database-connector
+        (if (>= emacs-major-version 29) 'sqlite-builtin 'sqlite-module)))
 
 (use-package custom
   :no-require t