diff --git a/gramps/gen/config.py b/gramps/gen/config.py
index be9a3fdad..97f72dd03 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/config.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/config.py
@@ -369,3 +369,5 @@ if not os.path.exists(CONFIGMAN.filename):
 CONFIGMAN.load()
 
 config = CONFIGMAN
+if config.get('database.backend') == 'bsddb':
+    config.set('database.backend', 'sqlite')
diff --git a/gramps/gui/configure.py b/gramps/gui/configure.py
index 01a4944e4..70877bfb8 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/configure.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/configure.py
@@ -1809,6 +1809,8 @@ class GrampsPreferences(ConfigureDialog):
         for plugin in sorted(backend_plugins, key=lambda plugin: plugin.name):
             if plugin.id == default:
                 active = count
+            if plugin.id == 'bsddb':
+                continue  # bsddb is deprecated, so don't allow setting
             model.append(row=[count, plugin.name, plugin.id])
             count += 1
         obox.set_model(model)
diff --git a/gramps/gui/dbman.py b/gramps/gui/dbman.py
index 8a377a1a1..4fcecd371 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/dbman.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/dbman.py
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class DbManager(CLIDbManager, ManagedWindow):
         dbid = config.get('database.backend')
         backend_type = self.get_backend_name_from_dbid(dbid)
         if backend_type == UNAVAILABLE:
-            dbid = 'bsddb'
+            dbid = 'sqlite'
             config.set('database.backend', dbid)
             backend_type = self.get_backend_name_from_dbid(dbid)
         self.new_btn.set_tooltip_text(backend_type)
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ class DbManager(CLIDbManager, ManagedWindow):
                 fname = os.path.join(dirname, filename)
                 os.unlink(fname)
 
-        dbase = make_database("bsddb")
+        dbase = make_database("sqlite")
         dbase.load(dirname, None)
 
         self.__start_cursor(_("Rebuilding database from backup files"))