diff --git a/code/cogs/owner/stats.py b/code/cogs/owner/stats.py
index 258b102..5409bfb 100644
--- a/code/cogs/owner/stats.py
+++ b/code/cogs/owner/stats.py
@@ -14,13 +14,11 @@ class Stats(commands.Cog):
         if not os.path.exists("data"):
             os.makedirs("data")
 
-        connection = sqlite3.connect("data/count.db")
-        if not connection:
-            LOG.error(
-                "Could not create connection to database. Likely permissions"
-                " issue."
-            )
+        if not os.access("data/count.db", os.W_OK):
+            LOG.error("Cannot write to data/count.db - check permissions")
+            return
 
+        connection = sqlite3.connect("data/count.db")
         cursor = connection.cursor()
         cursor.execute(
             "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS count (command_name, count, PRIMARY"
@@ -34,9 +32,6 @@ class Stats(commands.Cog):
     @tasks.loop(seconds=30)
     async def dump_count(self):
         connection = sqlite3.connect("data/count.db")
-        if not connection:
-            LOG.warning("No database connection. Skipping dump.")
-
         cursor = connection.cursor()
 
         for command_name, count in self.bot.temp_command_count.items():