diff --git a/alembic.ini b/alembic.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d78e89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# A generic, single database configuration.
+
+[alembic]
+# path to migration scripts
+script_location = alembic
+
+# template used to generate migration files
+# file_template = %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+
+# timezone to use when rendering the date
+# within the migration file as well as the filename.
+# string value is passed to dateutil.tz.gettz()
+# leave blank for localtime
+# timezone =
+
+# max length of characters to apply to the
+# "slug" field
+# truncate_slug_length = 40
+
+# set to 'true' to run the environment during
+# the 'revision' command, regardless of autogenerate
+# revision_environment = false
+
+# set to 'true' to allow .pyc and .pyo files without
+# a source .py file to be detected as revisions in the
+# versions/ directory
+# sourceless = false
+
+# version location specification; this defaults
+# to alembic/versions.  When using multiple version
+# directories, initial revisions must be specified with --version-path
+# version_locations = %(here)s/bar %(here)s/bat alembic/versions
+
+# the output encoding used when revision files
+# are written from script.py.mako
+# output_encoding = utf-8
+
+
+[post_write_hooks]
+# post_write_hooks defines scripts or Python functions that are run
+# on newly generated revision scripts.  See the documentation for further
+# detail and examples
+
+# format using "black" - use the console_scripts runner, against the "black" entrypoint
+# hooks=black
+# black.type=console_scripts
+# black.entrypoint=black
+# black.options=-l 79
+
+# Logging configuration
+[loggers]
+keys = root,sqlalchemy,alembic
+
+[handlers]
+keys = console
+
+[formatters]
+keys = generic
+
+[logger_root]
+level = WARN
+handlers = console
+qualname =
+
+[logger_sqlalchemy]
+level = WARN
+handlers =
+qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
+
+[logger_alembic]
+level = INFO
+handlers =
+qualname = alembic
+
+[handler_console]
+class = StreamHandler
+args = (sys.stderr,)
+level = NOTSET
+formatter = generic
+
+[formatter_generic]
+format = %(levelname)-5.5s [%(name)s] %(message)s
+datefmt = %H:%M:%S
diff --git a/alembic/README b/alembic/README
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98e4f9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/README
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Generic single-database configuration.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/alembic/env.py b/alembic/env.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51f01c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+from logging.config import fileConfig
+
+from sqlalchemy import engine_from_config, pool
+
+from alembic import context
+
+import sys
+from os.path import abspath, dirname
+
+sys.path.insert(0, dirname(dirname(abspath(__file__))))
+
+from mautrix.util.db import Base
+from maubot.config import Config
+from maubot import db
+
+# this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
+# access to the values within the .ini file in use.
+config = context.config
+
+maubot_config_path = context.get_x_argument(as_dictionary=True).get("config", "config.yaml")
+maubot_config = Config(maubot_config_path, None)
+maubot_config.load()
+config.set_main_option("sqlalchemy.url", maubot_config["database"].replace("%", "%%"))
+
+# Interpret the config file for Python logging.
+# This line sets up loggers basically.
+fileConfig(config.config_file_name)
+
+# add your model's MetaData object here
+# for 'autogenerate' support
+# from myapp import mymodel
+# target_metadata = mymodel.Base.metadata
+target_metadata = Base.metadata
+
+# other values from the config, defined by the needs of env.py,
+# can be acquired:
+# my_important_option = config.get_main_option("my_important_option")
+# ... etc.
+
+
+def run_migrations_offline():
+    """Run migrations in 'offline' mode.
+
+    This configures the context with just a URL
+    and not an Engine, though an Engine is acceptable
+    here as well.  By skipping the Engine creation
+    we don't even need a DBAPI to be available.
+
+    Calls to context.execute() here emit the given string to the
+    script output.
+
+    """
+    url = config.get_main_option("sqlalchemy.url")
+    context.configure(
+        url=url,
+        target_metadata=target_metadata,
+        literal_binds=True,
+        dialect_opts={"paramstyle": "named"},
+    )
+
+    with context.begin_transaction():
+        context.run_migrations()
+
+
+def run_migrations_online():
+    """Run migrations in 'online' mode.
+
+    In this scenario we need to create an Engine
+    and associate a connection with the context.
+
+    """
+    connectable = engine_from_config(
+        config.get_section(config.config_ini_section),
+        prefix="sqlalchemy.",
+        poolclass=pool.NullPool,
+    )
+
+    with connectable.connect() as connection:
+        context.configure(
+            connection=connection, target_metadata=target_metadata
+        )
+
+        with context.begin_transaction():
+            context.run_migrations()
+
+
+if context.is_offline_mode():
+    run_migrations_offline()
+else:
+    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/alembic/script.py.mako b/alembic/script.py.mako
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c01563
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/script.py.mako
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""${message}
+
+Revision ID: ${up_revision}
+Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
+Create Date: ${create_date}
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+${imports if imports else ""}
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = ${repr(up_revision)}
+down_revision = ${repr(down_revision)}
+branch_labels = ${repr(branch_labels)}
+depends_on = ${repr(depends_on)}
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/alembic/versions/d295f8dcfa64_initial_revision.py b/alembic/versions/d295f8dcfa64_initial_revision.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ffa502f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/d295f8dcfa64_initial_revision.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+"""Initial revision
+
+Revision ID: d295f8dcfa64
+Revises: 
+Create Date: 2019-09-27 00:21:02.527915
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = 'd295f8dcfa64'
+down_revision = None
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.create_table('client',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('homeserver', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('access_token', sa.Text(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('enabled', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('next_batch', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('filter_id', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('sync', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('autojoin', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('displayname', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('avatar_url', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    )
+    op.create_table('plugin',
+    sa.Column('id', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('type', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('enabled', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('primary_user', sa.String(length=255), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('config', sa.Text(), nullable=False),
+    sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(['primary_user'], ['client.id'], onupdate='CASCADE', ondelete='RESTRICT'),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('id')
+    )
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_table('plugin')
+    op.drop_table('client')
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/maubot/db.py b/maubot/db.py
index b8c97f8..ba9dbfc 100644
--- a/maubot/db.py
+++ b/maubot/db.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 from typing import Iterable, Optional
+import logging
+import sys
 
 from sqlalchemy import Column, String, Boolean, ForeignKey, Text
 from sqlalchemy.engine.base import Engine
@@ -72,13 +74,25 @@ class DBClient(Base):
 
 
 def init(config: Config) -> Engine:
-    db_engine = sql.create_engine(config["database"])
-    Base.metadata.bind = db_engine
+    db = sql.create_engine(config["database"])
+    Base.metadata.bind = db
 
     for table in (DBPlugin, DBClient):
-        table.db = db_engine
-        table.t = table.__table__
-        table.c = table.t.c
-        table.column_names = table.c.keys()
+        table.bind(db)
 
-    return db_engine
+    if not db.has_table("alembic_version"):
+        log = logging.getLogger("maubot.db")
+
+        if db.has_table("client") and db.has_table("plugin"):
+            log.warning("alembic_version table not found, but cligent and plugin tables found. "
+                        "Assuming pre-Alembic database and inserting version.")
+            db.execute("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS alembic_version ("
+                       "    version_num VARCHAR(32) PRIMARY KEY"
+                       ");")
+            db.execute("INSERT INTO alembic_version VALUES ('d295f8dcfa64');")
+        else:
+            log.critical("alembic_version table not found. "
+                         "Did you forget to `alembic upgrade head`?")
+            sys.exit(10)
+
+    return db