diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/README b/modules/db_postgres/README
index 5fd0e35dbeb..e3f33ef74a4 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/README
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/README
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ db_postgres Module
               1.3.2. max_db_queries (integer)
               1.3.3. timeout (integer)
               1.3.4. use_tls (integer)
+              1.3.5. lazy_connect (integer)
 
         1.4. Exported Functions
         1.5. Installation and Running
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ db_postgres Module
    1.2. Set max_db_queries parameter
    1.3. Set timeout parameter
    1.4. Set the use_tls parameter
+   1.5. Set lazy_connect parameter
 
 Chapter 1. Admin Guide
 
@@ -165,6 +167,23 @@ modparam("usrloc", "db_url", "postgres://root:1234@localhost/opensips?tl
 s_domain=dom1")
 ...
 
+1.3.5. lazy_connect (integer)
+
+   If set to 1, db_init() only allocates the connection handle.
+   PQconnectdbParams() runs on the first query (including
+   PQescapeStringConn while SQL text is built) or on async
+   connection setup. SIP worker processes that never query
+   PostgreSQL therefore keep no idle backend sockets. The
+   db_virtual probe timer still issues SELECT 1 on a temporary
+   handle so a down URL is not marked up without a real connect.
+
+   Default value is 0 (connect at init, historic behaviour).
+
+   Example 1.5. Set lazy_connect parameter
+...
+modparam("db_postgres", "lazy_connect", 1)
+...
+
 1.4. Exported Functions
 
    NONE
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.c b/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.c
index 041d9fb307d..6b90339e0b8 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.c
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ int db_postgres_exec_query_threshold = 0;   /* Warning in case DB query
 					       takes too long disabled by default*/
 int max_db_queries = 2;
 int pq_timeout = DEFAULT_PSQL_TIMEOUT;
+int pg_lazy_connect = 0; /* Don't be lazy, connect on start */
 
 int db_postgres_bind_api(const str* mod, db_func_t *dbb);
 
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ static const param_export_t params[] = {
 	{"max_db_queries", INT_PARAM, &max_db_queries},
 	{"timeout", INT_PARAM, &pq_timeout},
 	{"use_tls", INT_PARAM, &use_tls},
+	{"lazy_connect", INT_PARAM, &pg_lazy_connect},
 	{0, 0, 0}
 };
 
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.h b/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.h
index 11086bba6b4..bf562d53c1c 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.h
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/db_postgres.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ extern int pq_timeout;
 
 extern int use_tls;
 
+extern int pg_lazy_connect;
+
 extern struct tls_mgm_binds tls_api;
 
 #endif /* DB_POSTGRES_H */
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/dbase.c b/modules/db_postgres/dbase.c
index 5bbdfc8992e..8cf3fc5b2c0 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/dbase.c
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/dbase.c
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ static int db_postgres_submit_query(const db_con_t* _con, const str* _s)
 		return(-1);
 	}
 
+	if (db_postgres_ensure_connected((struct pg_con *)_con->tail) != 0)
+		return -1;
+
 	submit_func_called = 1;
 
 	/* this bit of nonsense in case our connection get screwed up */
@@ -245,6 +248,9 @@ static int db_postgres_submit_async_query(const db_con_t* _con, const str* _s)
 		return(-1);
 	}
 
+	if (db_postgres_ensure_connected((struct pg_con *)_con->tail) != 0)
+		return -1;
+
 	submit_func_called = 1;
 
 	/* this bit of nonsense in case our connection get screwed up */
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/doc/db_postgres_admin.xml b/modules/db_postgres/doc/db_postgres_admin.xml
index 1a5a047ff28..4bda348894b 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/doc/db_postgres_admin.xml
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/doc/db_postgres_admin.xml
@@ -192,6 +192,33 @@ modparam("db_postgres", "use_tls", 1)
 ...
 modparam("usrloc", "db_url", "postgres://root:1234@localhost/opensips?tls_domain=dom1")
 ...
+</programlisting>
+		</example>
+	</section>
+
+	<section id="param_lazy_connect" xreflabel="lazy_connect">
+		<title><varname>lazy_connect</varname> (integer)</title>
+		<para>
+		If set to 1, the module only allocates the connection handle at
+		init. The PostgreSQL socket is opened on the first query
+		(including string escaping via PQescapeStringConn, which
+		runs while the SQL text is built) or when an async
+		connection is created. Worker processes that never query
+		the database therefore keep no idle backend sockets. The <emphasis>db_virtual</emphasis> probe timer still
+		issues <emphasis>SELECT 1</emphasis> on a temporary handle so a
+		down URL is not marked up without a real connect.
+		</para>
+		<para>
+		<emphasis>
+			Default value is 0 (connect at init).
+		</emphasis>
+		</para>
+		<example>
+		<title>Set <varname>lazy_connect</varname> parameter</title>
+		<programlisting format="linespecific">
+...
+modparam("db_postgres", "lazy_connect", 1)
+...
 </programlisting>
 		</example>
 	</section>
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.c b/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.c
index c770f59a11f..4d9a7615c77 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.c
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.c
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ int db_postgres_connect(struct pg_con* ptr)
 	{
 		LM_ERR("PQconnectdbParams: %s\n", PQerrorMessage(ptr->con));
 		PQfinish(ptr->con);
+		ptr->con = 0;
+		ptr->connected = 0;
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -293,6 +295,12 @@ struct pg_con* db_postgres_new_connection(struct db_id* id)
 	ptr->ref = 1;
 	ptr->id = id;
 
+	if (pg_lazy_connect) {
+		LM_DBG("lazy_connect enabled, deferring PQconnect ptr=%p db_id=%p\n",
+			ptr, ptr->id);
+		return ptr;
+	}
+
 	LM_DBG("calling db_postgres_connect ptr = %p, db_id = %p\n", ptr, ptr->id);
 
 	if (db_postgres_connect(ptr)!=0) {
@@ -306,6 +314,21 @@ struct pg_con* db_postgres_new_connection(struct db_id* id)
 	return ptr;
 }
 
+int db_postgres_ensure_connected(struct pg_con* ptr)
+{
+	if (!ptr) {
+		LM_ERR("invalid connection parameter value\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	if (ptr->con)
+		return 0;
+
+	LM_DBG("opening deferred postgres connection ptr=%p db_id=%p\n",
+		ptr, ptr->id);
+	return db_postgres_connect(ptr);
+}
+
 /*
  * Create a new async connection structure,
  * open the PostgreSQL connection and set reference count to 1
@@ -322,11 +345,18 @@ struct pg_con* db_postgres_new_async_connection(struct db_id* id)
 	}
 
 	ptr = db_postgres_new_connection(id);
+	if (!ptr)
+		return 0;
 
-	if (ptr) {
-		PQsetnonblocking(ptr->con, 1);
+	/* async queries need a live socket even when lazy_connect is set */
+	if (db_postgres_ensure_connected(ptr) != 0) {
+		LM_ERR("async connect failed, cleaning up %p=pkg_free()\n", ptr);
+		pkg_free(ptr);
+		return 0;
 	}
 
+	PQsetnonblocking(ptr->con, 1);
+
 	return ptr;
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.h b/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.h
index e081edd876b..f09a1c95017 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.h
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/pg_con.h
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ struct pg_con {
  * Create a new connection structure,
  * open the PostgreSQL connection and set reference count to 1
  */
+int db_postgres_connect(struct pg_con* ptr);
+int db_postgres_ensure_connected(struct pg_con* ptr);
+
 struct pg_con* db_postgres_new_connection(struct db_id* id);
 
 /*
diff --git a/modules/db_postgres/val.c b/modules/db_postgres/val.c
index 615f90cbd6a..4b15e68db49 100644
--- a/modules/db_postgres/val.c
+++ b/modules/db_postgres/val.c
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ int db_postgres_val2str(const db_con_t* _con, const db_val_t* _v,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	/* PQescapeStringConn / PQescapeByteaConn need a live PGconn.
+	 * Query text is built (dispatcher version check, WHERE clauses)
+	 * before submit_query(), so lazy_connect must open here. */
+
 	switch(VAL_TYPE(_v)) {
 	case DB_INT:
 		if (db_int2str(VAL_INT(_v), _s, _len) < 0) {
@@ -242,6 +246,8 @@ int db_postgres_val2str(const db_con_t* _con, const db_val_t* _v,
 			       *_len, l * 2 + 3);
 			return -4;
 		} else {
+			if (db_postgres_ensure_connected((struct pg_con *)_con->tail) != 0)
+				return -4;
 			old_s = _s;
 			*_s++ = '\'';
 			ret = PQescapeStringConn(CON_CONNECTION(_con), _s, VAL_STRING(_v),
@@ -268,6 +274,8 @@ int db_postgres_val2str(const db_con_t* _con, const db_val_t* _v,
 			       *_len, l * 2 + 3);
 			return -5;
 		} else {
+			if (db_postgres_ensure_connected((struct pg_con *)_con->tail) != 0)
+				return -5;
 			old_s = _s;
 			*_s++ = '\'';
 			ret = PQescapeStringConn(CON_CONNECTION(_con), _s, VAL_STR(_v).s,
@@ -303,6 +311,8 @@ int db_postgres_val2str(const db_con_t* _con, const db_val_t* _v,
 			       *_len, l * 2 + 3);
 			return -7;
 		} else {
+			if (db_postgres_ensure_connected((struct pg_con *)_con->tail) != 0)
+				return -7;
 			*_s++ = '\'';
 			tmp_s = (char*)PQescapeByteaConn(CON_CONNECTION(_con), (unsigned char*)VAL_STRING(_v),
 					(size_t)l, (size_t*)&tmp_len);
diff --git a/modules/db_virtual/db_virtual.c b/modules/db_virtual/db_virtual.c
index 5343f943812..7aa38313baf 100644
--- a/modules/db_virtual/db_virtual.c
+++ b/modules/db_virtual/db_virtual.c
@@ -336,31 +336,55 @@ int init_private_handles(void){
     return -1;
 }
 
+static str db_virtual_probe_sql = str_init("SELECT 1");
+
+/* Real reachability check. db_postgres lazy_connect makes init() a
+ * handle alloc only; this ping forces PQconnect on the probe handle.
+ * Do not call this from db_virtual_init() — that would open sockets
+ * in every SIP worker. */
+static int db_virtual_ping(db_func_t *f, db_con_t *con)
+{
+	db_res_t *res = NULL;
+	int rc;
+
+	if (!f || !con)
+		return -1;
+
+	if (!f->raw_query)
+		return 0;
+
+	rc = f->raw_query(con, &db_virtual_probe_sql, &res);
+	if (res && f->free_result)
+		f->free_result(con, res);
+	return rc;
+}
+
 static void reconnect_timer(unsigned int ticks, void *data)
 {
     LM_DBG("reconnect with timer\n");
     int i,j;
 
     db_con_t * con;
+    db_func_t * f;
 
     for(i=0; i < global-> size; i++){
         for(j=0; j < global->set_list[i].size; j++){
             /* if CAN DOWN */
             if(!(global->set_list[i].db_list[j].flags & CAN_USE)){
-                con =
-                    global->set_list[i].db_list[j].dbf.init(
-                    &global->set_list[i].db_list[j].db_url);
-                if(!con){
+                f = &global->set_list[i].db_list[j].dbf;
+                con = f->init(&global->set_list[i].db_list[j].db_url);
+                if(!con || db_virtual_ping(f, con) != 0){
                      LM_DBG("Cant reconnect on timer to db %.*s, %i\n",
                         global->set_list[i].db_list[j].db_url.len,
                         global->set_list[i].db_list[j].db_url.s,
                              global->set_list[i].db_list[j].flags);
-
+                    if (con)
+                        f->close(con);
                 }else{
                     LM_DBG("Can reconnect on timer to db %.*s\n",
                             global->set_list[i].db_list[j].db_url.len,
                         global->set_list[i].db_list[j].db_url.s);
-                    global->set_list[i].db_list[j].dbf.close(con);
+                    f->close(con);
                     global->set_list[i].db_list[j].flags |= CAN_USE;
                 }
             }