diff --git a/code/modules/client/client procs.dm b/code/modules/client/client procs.dm
index 768de2a270b..7e180419dc0 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/client procs.dm	
+++ b/code/modules/client/client procs.dm	
@@ -316,8 +316,9 @@
 	send_resources()
 
 	if(prefs.lastchangelog != changelog_hash) //bolds the changelog button on the interface so we know there are updates. -CP
+		if(!setup_database_connection())
+			return // if we have db problems, don't show anything
 		winset(src, "rpane.changelog", "background-color=#f4aa94;font-style=bold")
-		prefs.SetChangelog(src,changelog_hash)
 		to_chat(src, "<span class='info'>Changelog has changed since your last visit.</span>")
 
 	if(!void)
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_mysql.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_mysql.dm
index 07db4bf7128..15abdab0360 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_mysql.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_mysql.dm
@@ -456,10 +456,12 @@
 
 /datum/preferences/proc/SetChangelog(client/C,hash)
 	lastchangelog=hash
+	winset(C, "rpane.changelog", "background-color=none;font-style=")
 	var/DBQuery/query = dbcon.NewQuery("UPDATE [format_table_name("player")] SET lastchangelog='[lastchangelog]' WHERE ckey='[C.ckey]'")
 	if(!query.Execute())
 		var/err = query.ErrorMsg()
 		log_game("SQL ERROR during lastchangelog updating. Error : \[[err]\]\n")
 		message_admins("SQL ERROR during lastchangelog updating. Error : \[[err]\]\n")
+		to_chat(C, "Couldn't update your last seen changelog, please try again later.")
 		return
 	return 1
diff --git a/code/modules/mob/new_player/login.dm b/code/modules/mob/new_player/login.dm
index bbb0211ce67..f7cff248519 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/new_player/login.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/new_player/login.dm
@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@
 		verbs += /client/proc/readmin
 	spawn(40)
 		if(client)
-			if(client.prefs.lastchangelog != changelog_hash) //bolds the changelog button on the interface so we know there are updates. -CP
-				winset(client, "rpane.changelog", "background-color=#f4aa94;font-style=bold")
-				client.prefs.SetChangelog(client,changelog_hash)
-				to_chat(src, "<span class='info'>Changelog has changed since your last visit.</span>")
 			client.playtitlemusic()
 
 	if(config.player_overflow_cap && config.overflow_server_url) //Overflow rerouting, if set, forces players to be moved to a different server once a player cap is reached. Less rough than a pure kick.
diff --git a/interface/interface.dm b/interface/interface.dm
index 589a5e0dc86..81fe75b269b 100644
--- a/interface/interface.dm
+++ b/interface/interface.dm
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@
 	src << browse('html/changelog.html', "window=changes;size=675x650")
 
 	if(prefs.lastchangelog != changelog_hash) //if it's already opened, no need to tell them they have unread changes
-		prefs.lastchangelog = changelog_hash
-		prefs.save_preferences()
-		winset(src, "rpane.changelog", "background-color=none;font-style=")
+		prefs.SetChangelog(src,changelog_hash)
 
 /client/verb/forum()
 	set name = "forum"