diff --git a/api/database.go b/api/database.go
index 106a8d9..8f2c4e0 100644
--- a/api/database.go
+++ b/api/database.go
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ func (api *DatabaseAPI) handleGet(opID []byte, key string) {
 	if err == nil {
 		data, err = r.Marshal(r, record.JSON)
 	}
-	if err == nil {
-		api.send(opID, dbMsgTypeError, err.Error(), nil) //nolint:nilness // FIXME: possibly false positive (golangci-lint govet/nilness)
+	if err != nil {
+		api.send(opID, dbMsgTypeError, err.Error(), nil)
 		return
 	}
 	api.send(opID, dbMsgTypeOk, r.Key(), data)
@@ -435,13 +435,13 @@ func (api *DatabaseAPI) handlePut(opID []byte, key string, data []byte, create b
 		return
 	}
 
-	// FIXME: remove transition code
-	if data[0] != record.JSON {
-		typedData := make([]byte, len(data)+1)
-		typedData[0] = record.JSON
-		copy(typedData[1:], data)
-		data = typedData
-	}
+	// TODO - staged for deletion: remove transition code
+	// if data[0] != record.JSON {
+	// 	typedData := make([]byte, len(data)+1)
+	// 	typedData[0] = record.JSON
+	// 	copy(typedData[1:], data)
+	// 	data = typedData
+	// }
 
 	r, err := record.NewWrapper(key, nil, data[0], data[1:])
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/config/main.go b/config/main.go
index a37f8f6..df432c2 100644
--- a/config/main.go
+++ b/config/main.go
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
+	"github.com/safing/portbase/dataroot"
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/modules"
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/utils"
-	"github.com/safing/portmaster/core/structure"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ func SetDataRoot(root *utils.DirStructure) {
 }
 
 func init() {
-	module = modules.Register("config", prep, start, nil, "base", "database")
+	module = modules.Register("config", prep, start, nil, "database")
 	module.RegisterEvent(configChangeEvent)
 }
 
 func prep() error {
-	SetDataRoot(structure.Root())
+	SetDataRoot(dataroot.Root())
 	if dataRoot == nil {
 		return errors.New("data root is not set")
 	}
diff --git a/database/database_test.go b/database/database_test.go
index 3d59556..f2e2920 100644
--- a/database/database_test.go
+++ b/database/database_test.go
@@ -128,12 +128,12 @@ func TestDatabaseSystem(t *testing.T) {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}()
 
-	testDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "testing-")
+	testDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "portbase-database-testing-")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	err = Initialize(testDir, nil)
+	err = InitializeWithPath(testDir)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/database/dbmodule/db.go b/database/dbmodule/db.go
index 13903c6..9a4c430 100644
--- a/database/dbmodule/db.go
+++ b/database/dbmodule/db.go
@@ -4,41 +4,44 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/database"
+	"github.com/safing/portbase/dataroot"
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/modules"
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/utils"
 )
 
 var (
-	databasePath          string
 	databaseStructureRoot *utils.DirStructure
 
 	module *modules.Module
 )
 
 func init() {
-	module = modules.Register("database", prep, start, stop, "base")
+	module = modules.Register("database", prep, start, stop)
 }
 
 // SetDatabaseLocation sets the location of the database for initialization. Supply either a path or dir structure.
-func SetDatabaseLocation(dirPath string, dirStructureRoot *utils.DirStructure) {
-	databasePath = dirPath
-	databaseStructureRoot = dirStructureRoot
+func SetDatabaseLocation(dirStructureRoot *utils.DirStructure) {
+	if databaseStructureRoot == nil {
+		databaseStructureRoot = dirStructureRoot
+	}
 }
 
 func prep() error {
-	if databasePath == "" && databaseStructureRoot == nil {
-		return errors.New("no database location specified")
+	SetDatabaseLocation(dataroot.Root())
+	if databaseStructureRoot == nil {
+		return errors.New("database location not specified")
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 func start() error {
-	err := database.Initialize(databasePath, databaseStructureRoot)
+	err := database.Initialize(databaseStructureRoot)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	registerMaintenanceTasks()
+	startMaintenanceTasks()
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/database/dbmodule/maintenance.go b/database/dbmodule/maintenance.go
index 8958299..6a1755c 100644
--- a/database/dbmodule/maintenance.go
+++ b/database/dbmodule/maintenance.go
@@ -5,33 +5,23 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/database"
-	"github.com/safing/portbase/log"
 	"github.com/safing/portbase/modules"
 )
 
-func registerMaintenanceTasks() {
+func startMaintenanceTasks() {
 	module.NewTask("basic maintenance", maintainBasic).Repeat(10 * time.Minute).MaxDelay(10 * time.Minute)
 	module.NewTask("thorough maintenance", maintainThorough).Repeat(1 * time.Hour).MaxDelay(1 * time.Hour)
 	module.NewTask("record maintenance", maintainRecords).Repeat(1 * time.Hour).MaxDelay(1 * time.Hour)
 }
 
-func maintainBasic(ctx context.Context, task *modules.Task) {
-	err := database.Maintain()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("database: maintenance error: %s", err)
-	}
+func maintainBasic(ctx context.Context, task *modules.Task) error {
+	return database.Maintain()
 }
 
-func maintainThorough(ctx context.Context, task *modules.Task) {
-	err := database.MaintainThorough()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("database: thorough maintenance error: %s", err)
-	}
+func maintainThorough(ctx context.Context, task *modules.Task) error {
+	return database.MaintainThorough()
 }
 
-func maintainRecords(ctx context.Context, task *modules.Task) {
-	err := database.MaintainRecordStates()
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("database: record states maintenance error: %s", err)
-	}
+func maintainRecords(ctx context.Context, task *modules.Task) error {
+	return database.MaintainRecordStates()
 }
diff --git a/database/main.go b/database/main.go
index d49962c..74c31a3 100644
--- a/database/main.go
+++ b/database/main.go
@@ -23,15 +23,15 @@ var (
 	databasesStructure *utils.DirStructure
 )
 
-// Initialize initializes the database at the specified location. Supply either a path or dir structure.
-func Initialize(dirPath string, dirStructureRoot *utils.DirStructure) error {
-	if initialized.SetToIf(false, true) {
+// InitializeWithPath initializes the database at the specified location using a path.
+func InitializeWithPath(dirPath string) error {
+	return Initialize(utils.NewDirStructure(dirPath, 0755))
+}
 
-		if dirStructureRoot != nil {
-			rootStructure = dirStructureRoot
-		} else {
-			rootStructure = utils.NewDirStructure(dirPath, 0755)
-		}
+// Initialize initializes the database at the specified location using a dir structure.
+func Initialize(dirStructureRoot *utils.DirStructure) error {
+	if initialized.SetToIf(false, true) {
+		rootStructure = dirStructureRoot
 
 		// ensure root and databases dirs
 		databasesStructure = rootStructure.ChildDir(databasesSubDir, 0700)
diff --git a/database/registry.go b/database/registry.go
index b6d1984..22e6bab 100644
--- a/database/registry.go
+++ b/database/registry.go
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func saveRegistry(lock bool) error {
 	}
 
 	// write file
-	// FIXME: write atomically (best effort)
+	// TODO: write atomically (best effort)
 	filePath := path.Join(rootStructure.Path, registryFileName)
 	return ioutil.WriteFile(filePath, data, 0600)
 }
diff --git a/dataroot/root.go b/dataroot/root.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..84c5275
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dataroot/root.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package dataroot
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/safing/portbase/utils"
+)
+
+var (
+	root *utils.DirStructure
+)
+
+// Initialize initializes the data root directory
+func Initialize(rootDir string, perm os.FileMode) error {
+	if root != nil {
+		return errors.New("already initialized")
+	}
+
+	root = utils.NewDirStructure(rootDir, perm)
+	return root.Ensure()
+}
+
+// Root returns the data root directory.
+func Root() *utils.DirStructure {
+	return root
+}
diff --git a/log/input.go b/log/input.go
index e8b6579..60f4af6 100644
--- a/log/input.go
+++ b/log/input.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ func log(level Severity, msg string, tracer *ContextTracer) {
 
 	if !started.IsSet() {
 		// a bit resource intense, but keeps logs before logging started.
-		// FIXME: create option to disable logging
+		// TODO: create option to disable logging
 		go func() {
 			<-startedSignal
 			log(level, msg, tracer)
diff --git a/log/logging.go b/log/logging.go
index 2d605c8..d28039f 100644
--- a/log/logging.go
+++ b/log/logging.go
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ var (
 	logsWaiting     = make(chan struct{}, 4)
 	logsWaitingFlag = abool.NewBool(false)
 
+	shutdownFlag      = abool.NewBool(false)
 	shutdownSignal    = make(chan struct{})
 	shutdownWaitGroup sync.WaitGroup
 
@@ -179,6 +180,8 @@ func Start() (err error) {
 
 // Shutdown writes remaining log lines and then stops the log system.
 func Shutdown() {
-	close(shutdownSignal)
+	if shutdownFlag.SetToIf(false, true) {
+		close(shutdownSignal)
+	}
 	shutdownWaitGroup.Wait()
 }
diff --git a/log/trace.go b/log/trace.go
index a345f5d..f90b306 100644
--- a/log/trace.go
+++ b/log/trace.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (tracer *ContextTracer) Submit() {
 
 	if !started.IsSet() {
 		// a bit resource intense, but keeps logs before logging started.
-		// FIXME: create option to disable logging
+		// TODO: create option to disable logging
 		go func() {
 			<-startedSignal
 			tracer.Submit()