--- ./lib/backend/bdb_ro.c.orig	2020-01-17 12:42:10.916701298 +0000
+++ ./lib/backend/bdb_ro.c	2020-01-17 12:42:50.924603470 +0000
@@ -790,6 +790,7 @@ static unsigned int bdbro_pkgdbKey(dbiIn
 struct rpmdbOps_s bdbro_dbops = {
     .name       = "bdb_ro",
     .path       = "Packages",
+    .readonly   = 1,
 
     .open       = bdbro_Open,
     .close      = bdbro_Close,
--- ./lib/backend/dbi.c.orig	2020-01-17 12:42:10.916701298 +0000
+++ ./lib/backend/dbi.c	2020-01-17 12:42:50.924603470 +0000
@@ -105,11 +105,20 @@ dbDetectBackend(rpmdb rdb)
     }
 
     rdb->db_descr = rdb->db_ops->name;
+    rdb->db_ops_config = ops_config;
 
     if (db_backend)
 	free(db_backend);
 }
 
+int dbiNeedConversion(rpmdb rdb)
+{
+    if (!rdb->db_ops)
+	dbDetectBackend(rdb);
+    return rdb->db_ops->readonly && rdb->db_ops_config
+	&& rdb->db_ops_config->path && !rdb->db_ops_config->readonly;
+}
+
 const char * dbiName(dbiIndex dbi)
 {
     return dbi->dbi_file;
--- ./lib/backend/dbi.h.orig	2020-01-17 12:42:10.916701298 +0000
+++ ./lib/backend/dbi.h	2020-01-17 12:42:50.924603470 +0000
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ struct rpmdb_s {
     int		db_buildindex;	/*!< Index rebuild indicator */
 
     const struct rpmdbOps_s * db_ops;	/*!< backend ops */
+    const struct rpmdbOps_s * db_ops_config;	/*!< configured backend ops */
 
     /* dbenv and related parameters */
     void * db_dbenv;		/*!< Backend private handle */
@@ -201,6 +202,14 @@ RPM_GNUC_INTERNAL
 const char * dbiName(dbiIndex dbi);
 
 /** \ingroup dbi
+ * Check if the database needs to be converted to a different format
+ * @param db           rpm database
+ * @return             boolean
+ */
+RPM_GNUC_INTERNAL
+int dbiNeedConversion(rpmdb rdb);
+
+/** \ingroup dbi
  * Open a database cursor.
  * @param dbi		index database handle
  * @param flags		DBC_WRITE if writing, or 0 (DBC_READ) for reading
@@ -246,6 +255,7 @@ const void * idxdbKey(dbiIndex dbi, dbiC
 struct rpmdbOps_s {
     const char *name; /* backend name */
     const char *path; /* main database name */
+    int readonly;     /* cannot modify database */
 
     int (*open)(rpmdb rdb, rpmDbiTagVal rpmtag, dbiIndex * dbip, int flags);
     int (*close)(dbiIndex dbi, unsigned int flags);
--- ./lib/rpmdb.c.orig	2020-01-17 12:42:10.916701298 +0000
+++ ./lib/rpmdb.c	2020-01-17 12:42:50.924603470 +0000
@@ -513,8 +513,16 @@ static int openDatabase(const char * pre
 	    rpmsqActivate(1);
 	}
 
+	/* Convert the database if needed */
+	if (!db->db_pkgs && !justCheck && (mode & O_ACCMODE) == O_RDWR && dbiNeedConversion(db)) {
+	    rpmlog(RPMLOG_WARNING, _("Converting database from %s to %s format\n"), db->db_ops->name, db->db_ops_config->name);
+	    rc = rpmdbRebuild(prefix, NULL, NULL);
+	    db->db_ops = NULL;		/* force re-detection of backend */
+	}
+
 	/* Just the primary Packages database opened here */
-	rc = pkgdbOpen(db, db->db_flags, NULL);
+	if (!rc)
+	    rc = pkgdbOpen(db, db->db_flags, NULL);
 	if (!db->db_descr)
 	    db->db_descr = "unknown db";
     }