diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 0b9e26f6..68ca4408 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -46,9 +46,21 @@ export const open = async <T extends Response>(
       persistent: opts.watchForUpdatesNonPersistent !== true,
     };
 
-    fs.watchFile(filepath, watcherOptions, async (curr, prev) => {
-      // Make sure file was modified, not just accessed
-      if (!curr || prev && prev.mtimeMs === curr.mtimeMs) {
+    fs.watchFile(filepath, watcherOptions, async () => {
+      // When database file is being replaced,
+      // it could be removed for a fraction of a second.
+      const waitExists = async () => {
+        for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+          if (fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
+            return true;
+          }
+
+          await new Promise((a) => setTimeout(a, 500));
+        }
+
+        return false;
+      };
+      if (!(await waitExists())) {
         return;
       }
       const updatedDatabase = await fs.readFile(filepath);