diff --git a/internal/handlers/api_test.go b/internal/handlers/api_test.go
index b6635a8..594ef40 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/api_test.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/api_test.go
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ package handlers_test
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
@@ -22,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"go.uber.org/fx"
 	"go.uber.org/fx/fxtest"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
+	"modernc.org/sqlite"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/neoirc/internal/broker"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/neoirc/internal/config"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/neoirc/internal/db"
@@ -37,9 +41,76 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/neoirc/pkg/irc"
 )
 
+// templateDBURL names the in-memory database TestMain migrates once
+// and every test copies; it lasts while TestMain holds it open.
+const templateDBURL = "file:template?mode=memory&cache=shared"
+
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	db.SetBcryptCost(bcrypt.MinCost)
-	os.Exit(m.Run())
+
+	template, err := sql.Open("sqlite", templateDBURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	err = db.NewTestDatabaseFromConn(template).
+		RunMigrations(context.Background())
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	code := m.Run()
+
+	_ = template.Close()
+
+	os.Exit(code)
+}
+
+// copyTemplateDB creates the in-memory database dbURL as a copy of
+// the migrated template, so a test does not migrate the schema
+// again. The copy lasts until the test ends.
+func copyTemplateDB(t *testing.T, dbURL string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	database, err := sql.Open("sqlite", dbURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("open test db: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = database.Close() })
+
+	conn, err := database.Conn(t.Context())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("connect test db: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = conn.Close() }()
+
+	err = conn.Raw(func(driverConn any) error {
+		restorer, ok := driverConn.(interface {
+			NewRestore(srcURI string) (*sqlite.Backup, error)
+		})
+		if !ok {
+			return errors.ErrUnsupported
+		}
+
+		restore, restoreErr := restorer.NewRestore(templateDBURL)
+		if restoreErr != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("start restore: %w", restoreErr)
+		}
+
+		_, restoreErr = restore.Step(-1)
+		if restoreErr != nil {
+			_ = restore.Finish()
+
+			return fmt.Errorf("restore: %w", restoreErr)
+		}
+
+		return restore.Finish()
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("copy template db: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 const (
@@ -84,6 +155,7 @@ func newTestServerWith(
 		"file:test_%p?mode=memory&cache=shared",
 		t,
 	)
+	copyTemplateDB(t, dbURL)
 
 	var srv *server.Server
 
@@ -109,6 +181,8 @@ func newTestServerWith(
 
 				cfg.DBURL = dbURL
 				cfg.Port = 0
+				// One line: each line is a database write per new session.
+				cfg.MOTD = "neoirc test server"
 				cfg.HashcashBits = hashcashBits
 				cfg.OperName = operName
 				cfg.OperPassword = operPassword