diff --git a/web.py b/web.py
index 73b886d..de1273e 100644
--- a/web.py
+++ b/web.py
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ class ReticulumWebChat:
         lxmf_router_path = os.path.join(storage_path, "lxmf_router")
 
         # init database
-        database.database.initialize(SqliteDatabase(database_path))
+        sqlite_database = SqliteDatabase(database_path)
+        database.database.initialize(sqlite_database)
         self.db = database.database
         self.db.connect()
         self.db.create_tables([
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ class ReticulumWebChat:
             database.LxmfMessage,
         ])
 
+        # vacuum database on start to shrink its file size
+        sqlite_database.execute_sql("VACUUM")
+
         # init config
         self.config = Config()