diff --git a/backend/db/db.go b/backend/db/db.go
index 664157c..77c8a35 100644
--- a/backend/db/db.go
+++ b/backend/db/db.go
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ func New() (*DB, error) {
 			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "creating redis client")
 		}
 	} else {
-		log.Warn("$REDIS was empty! ANY FUNCTIONALITY using redis will CRASH the server")
+		log.Warn("$REDIS was empty! Any functionality using Redis (such as authentication) will not work")
+		redis = &dummyRedis{}
 	}
 
 	minioClient, err := minio.New(os.Getenv("MINIO_ENDPOINT"), &minio.Options{
diff --git a/backend/db/member.go b/backend/db/member.go
index 6e66463..220b36d 100644
--- a/backend/db/member.go
+++ b/backend/db/member.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (db *DB) CreateMember(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, userID xid.ID, name s
 		return m, errors.Wrap(err, "building sql")
 	}
 
-	err = pgxscan.Get(ctx, db, &m, sql, args...)
+	err = pgxscan.Get(ctx, tx, &m, sql, args...)
 	if err != nil {
 		pge := &pgconn.PgError{}
 		if errors.As(err, &pge) {
diff --git a/backend/db/redis.go b/backend/db/redis.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..741ac41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/db/redis.go
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+package db
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+
+	"emperror.dev/errors"
+	"github.com/mediocregopher/radix/v4"
+)
+
+var _ radix.Client = (*dummyRedis)(nil)
+
+type dummyRedis struct{}
+
+func (*dummyRedis) Addr() net.Addr { return &net.IPAddr{} }
+func (*dummyRedis) Close() error   { return nil }
+
+func (*dummyRedis) Do(context.Context, radix.Action) error {
+	return errors.Sentinel("this is a dummy client")
+}