diff --git a/mx_mysql.c b/mx_mysql.c
index 12e0766..5027f1e 100644
--- a/mx_mysql.c
+++ b/mx_mysql.c
@@ -755,18 +755,28 @@ static inline int _mx_mysql_bind_validate(struct mx_mysql_bind *b)
 
 /**********************************************************************/
 
-int mx_mysql_init(struct mx_mysql **mysql)
+int mx_mysql_initialize(struct mx_mysql **mysql)
 {
     struct mx_mysql *m;
-    int res;
 
     mx_assert_return_minus_errno(mysql, EINVAL);
     mx_assert_return_minus_errno(!(*mysql), EUCLEAN);
 
     m = mx_calloc_forever(1, sizeof(*m));
 
+    *mysql = m;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int mx_mysql_init(struct mx_mysql *mysql)
+{
+    int res;
+
+    mx_assert_return_minus_errno(mysql, EINVAL);
+
     do {
-        res = mx__mysql_init(m);
+        res = mx__mysql_init(mysql);
         if (res == 0)
             break;
 
@@ -778,8 +788,6 @@ int mx_mysql_init(struct mx_mysql **mysql)
 
     } while (1);
 
-    *mysql = m;
-
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -883,7 +891,12 @@ int mx_mysql_connect(struct mx_mysql **mysql)
     mx_assert_return_minus_errno(mysql, EINVAL);
 
     if (!(*mysql)) {
-        res = mx_mysql_init(mysql);
+        res = mx_mysql_initialize(mysql);
+        if (res < 0)
+            return res;
+    }
+    if (!(*mysql)->mysql) {
+        res = mx_mysql_init(*mysql);
         if (res < 0)
             return res;
     }
diff --git a/mx_mysql.h b/mx_mysql.h
index 1e5718e..5e07102 100644
--- a/mx_mysql.h
+++ b/mx_mysql.h
@@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ struct mx_mysql_stmt {
 #define mx_mysql_statement_param_bind(s, i, t, p)  mx_mysql_bind_var(&((s)->param), (i), t, (p))
 #define mx_mysql_statement_result_bind(s, i, t, p) mx_mysql_bind_var(&((s)->result), (i), t, (p))
 
-int mx_mysql_init(struct mx_mysql **);
+int mx_mysql_initialize(struct mx_mysql **mysql);
+int mx_mysql_init(struct mx_mysql *mysql);
+
 int mx_mysql_free(struct mx_mysql **mysql);
 
 int mx_mysql_option_set_default_file(struct mx_mysql *mysql, char *fname);
diff --git a/mxqdump.c b/mxqdump.c
index f64e630..bea145e 100644
--- a/mxqdump.c
+++ b/mxqdump.c
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (arg_jobs && arg_status == UINT64_UNSET)
         arg_status = MXQ_JOB_STATUS_RUNNING;
 
-    res = mx_mysql_init(&mysql);
+    res = mx_mysql_initialize(&mysql);
     assert(res == 0);
 
     mx_mysql_option_set_default_file(mysql, arg_mysql_default_file);
diff --git a/mxqkill.c b/mxqkill.c
index be5c021..54c03a5 100644
--- a/mxqkill.c
+++ b/mxqkill.c
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         }
     }
 
-    res = mx_mysql_init(&mysql);
+    res = mx_mysql_initialize(&mysql);
     assert(res == 0);
 
     mx_mysql_option_set_default_file(mysql, arg_mysql_default_file);
diff --git a/mxqsub.c b/mxqsub.c
index 975ca2e..92e37bc 100644
--- a/mxqsub.c
+++ b/mxqsub.c
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     /******************************************************************/
 
-    res = mx_mysql_init(&mysql);
+    res = mx_mysql_initialize(&mysql);
     assert(res == 0);
 
     mx_mysql_option_set_default_file(mysql, arg_mysql_default_file);