diff --git a/freqtrade/commands/pairlist_commands.py b/freqtrade/commands/pairlist_commands.py
index a815cd5f3..b1df7e98b 100644
--- a/freqtrade/commands/pairlist_commands.py
+++ b/freqtrade/commands/pairlist_commands.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def start_test_pairlist(args: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     """
     Test Pairlist configuration
     """
+    from freqtrade.persistence import FtNoDBContext
     from freqtrade.plugins.pairlistmanager import PairListManager
     config = setup_utils_configuration(args, RunMode.UTIL_EXCHANGE)
 
@@ -24,11 +25,12 @@ def start_test_pairlist(args: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     if not quote_currencies:
         quote_currencies = [config.get('stake_currency')]
     results = {}
-    for curr in quote_currencies:
-        config['stake_currency'] = curr
-        pairlists = PairListManager(exchange, config)
-        pairlists.refresh_pairlist()
-        results[curr] = pairlists.whitelist
+    with FtNoDBContext():
+        for curr in quote_currencies:
+            config['stake_currency'] = curr
+            pairlists = PairListManager(exchange, config)
+            pairlists.refresh_pairlist()
+            results[curr] = pairlists.whitelist
 
     for curr, pairlist in results.items():
         if not args.get('print_one_column', False) and not args.get('list_pairs_print_json', False):
diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index ce37a0dcc..137e51de5 100644
--- a/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ from freqtrade.optimize.optimize_reports import (generate_backtest_stats, genera
                                                  show_backtest_results,
                                                  store_backtest_analysis_results,
                                                  store_backtest_stats)
-from freqtrade.persistence import LocalTrade, Order, PairLocks, Trade
+from freqtrade.persistence import (LocalTrade, Order, PairLocks, Trade, disable_database_use,
+                                   enable_database_use)
 from freqtrade.plugins.pairlistmanager import PairListManager
 from freqtrade.plugins.protectionmanager import ProtectionManager
 from freqtrade.resolvers import ExchangeResolver, StrategyResolver
@@ -177,8 +178,7 @@ class Backtesting:
     @staticmethod
     def cleanup():
         LoggingMixin.show_output = True
-        PairLocks.use_db = True
-        Trade.use_db = True
+        enable_database_use()
 
     def init_backtest_detail(self) -> None:
         # Load detail timeframe if specified
@@ -325,9 +325,7 @@ class Backtesting:
             self.futures_data = {}
 
     def disable_database_use(self):
-        PairLocks.use_db = False
-        PairLocks.timeframe = self.timeframe
-        Trade.use_db = False
+        disable_database_use(self.timeframe)
 
     def prepare_backtest(self, enable_protections):
         """
diff --git a/freqtrade/persistence/__init__.py b/freqtrade/persistence/__init__.py
index 4cf7aa455..6205174a7 100644
--- a/freqtrade/persistence/__init__.py
+++ b/freqtrade/persistence/__init__.py
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ from freqtrade.persistence.key_value_store import KeyStoreKeys, KeyValueStore
 from freqtrade.persistence.models import init_db
 from freqtrade.persistence.pairlock_middleware import PairLocks
 from freqtrade.persistence.trade_model import LocalTrade, Order, Trade
+from freqtrade.persistence.usedb_context import (FtNoDBContext, disable_database_use,
+                                                 enable_database_use)
diff --git a/freqtrade/persistence/usedb_context.py b/freqtrade/persistence/usedb_context.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fffd2fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/freqtrade/persistence/usedb_context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+
+from freqtrade.persistence.pairlock_middleware import PairLocks
+from freqtrade.persistence.trade_model import Trade
+
+
+def disable_database_use(timeframe: str) -> None:
+    """
+    Disable database usage for PairLocks and Trade models.
+    Used for backtesting, and some other utility commands.
+    """
+    PairLocks.use_db = False
+    PairLocks.timeframe = timeframe
+    Trade.use_db = False
+
+
+def enable_database_use() -> None:
+    """
+    Cleanup function to restore database usage.
+    """
+    PairLocks.use_db = True
+    PairLocks.timeframe = ''
+    Trade.use_db = True
+
+
+class FtNoDBContext:
+    def __init__(self, timeframe: str = ''):
+        self.timeframe = timeframe
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        disable_database_use(self.timeframe)
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
+        enable_database_use()
diff --git a/freqtrade/rpc/api_server/api_background_tasks.py b/freqtrade/rpc/api_server/api_background_tasks.py
index c13fa31e4..04e98c609 100644
--- a/freqtrade/rpc/api_server/api_background_tasks.py
+++ b/freqtrade/rpc/api_server/api_background_tasks.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from fastapi.exceptions import HTTPException
 from freqtrade.constants import Config
 from freqtrade.enums import CandleType
 from freqtrade.exceptions import OperationalException
+from freqtrade.persistence import FtNoDBContext
 from freqtrade.rpc.api_server.api_schemas import (BackgroundTaskStatus, BgJobStarted,
                                                   ExchangeModePayloadMixin, PairListsPayload,
                                                   PairListsResponse, WhitelistEvaluateResponse)
@@ -57,16 +58,16 @@ def __run_pairlist(job_id: str, config_loc: Config):
 
         ApiBG.jobs[job_id]['is_running'] = True
         from freqtrade.plugins.pairlistmanager import PairListManager
-
-        exchange = get_exchange(config_loc)
-        pairlists = PairListManager(exchange, config_loc)
-        pairlists.refresh_pairlist()
-        ApiBG.jobs[job_id]['result'] = {
-                'method': pairlists.name_list,
-                'length': len(pairlists.whitelist),
-                'whitelist': pairlists.whitelist
-            }
-        ApiBG.jobs[job_id]['status'] = 'success'
+        with FtNoDBContext():
+            exchange = get_exchange(config_loc)
+            pairlists = PairListManager(exchange, config_loc)
+            pairlists.refresh_pairlist()
+            ApiBG.jobs[job_id]['result'] = {
+                    'method': pairlists.name_list,
+                    'length': len(pairlists.whitelist),
+                    'whitelist': pairlists.whitelist
+                }
+            ApiBG.jobs[job_id]['status'] = 'success'
     except (OperationalException, Exception) as e:
         logger.exception(e)
         ApiBG.jobs[job_id]['error'] = str(e)
diff --git a/tests/persistence/test_db_context.py b/tests/persistence/test_db_context.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..690006219
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/persistence/test_db_context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import pytest
+
+from freqtrade.persistence import FtNoDBContext, PairLocks, Trade
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('timeframe', ['', '5m', '1d'])
+def test_FtNoDBContext(timeframe):
+    PairLocks.timeframe = ''
+    assert Trade.use_db is True
+    assert PairLocks.use_db is True
+    assert PairLocks.timeframe == ''
+
+    with FtNoDBContext(timeframe):
+        assert Trade.use_db is False
+        assert PairLocks.use_db is False
+        assert PairLocks.timeframe == timeframe
+
+    with FtNoDBContext():
+        assert Trade.use_db is False
+        assert PairLocks.use_db is False
+        assert PairLocks.timeframe == ''
+
+    assert Trade.use_db is True
+    assert PairLocks.use_db is True