diff --git a/src/database.py b/src/database.py
index a16e9af..d1bc994 100644
--- a/src/database.py
+++ b/src/database.py
@@ -101,12 +101,17 @@ def create_comment(conn: sqlite3.Connection, comment: str, claim_id: str, **kwar
             _insert_channel(conn, channel_name, channel_id)
         except AssertionError:
             logger.exception('Received invalid input')
-            return None
+            raise TypeError('Invalid params given to input validation')
     else:
         channel_id = config['ANONYMOUS']['CHANNEL_ID']
-    comment_id = _insert_comment(
-        conn=conn, comment=comment, claim_id=claim_id, channel_id=channel_id, **kwargs
-    )
+    try:
+        comment_id = _insert_comment(
+            conn=conn, comment=comment, claim_id=claim_id, channel_id=channel_id, **kwargs
+        )
+    except sqlite3.IntegrityError as ie:
+        logger.exception(ie)
+        return None  # silently return none
+
     curry = conn.execute(
         'SELECT * FROM COMMENTS_ON_CLAIMS WHERE comment_id = ?', (comment_id,)
     )
@@ -186,7 +191,7 @@ async def create_comment_async(db_file: str, comment: str, claim_id: str, **kwar
             )
             await _insert_channel_async(db_file, channel_name, channel_id)
         except AssertionError:
-            return None
+            raise TypeError('Invalid parameters given to input validation')
     else:
         channel_id = config['ANONYMOUS']['CHANNEL_ID']
     comment_id = await _insert_comment_async(
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index 9ef240a..b9c3da3 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import logging
 import aiojobs.aiohttp
 import asyncio
 from aiohttp import web
+import re
 
 import schema.db_helpers
 from src.database import obtain_connection
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ from src.handles import api_endpoint
 from src.settings import config
 from src.writes import create_comment_scheduler, DatabaseWriter
 
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 # logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
 
@@ -46,16 +48,25 @@ async def create_database_backup(app):
         while True:
             await asyncio.sleep(app['config']['BACKUP_INT'])
             with obtain_connection(app['db_path']) as conn:
-                logger.debug('%s backing up database')
+                logger.debug('backing up database')
                 schema.db_helpers.backup_database(conn, app['backup'])
 
     except asyncio.CancelledError as e:
         pass
 
+
 async def start_background_tasks(app: web.Application):
     app['waitful_backup'] = app.loop.create_task(create_database_backup(app))
     app['comment_scheduler'] = await create_comment_scheduler()
-    app['writer'] = DatabaseWriter(config['PATH']['DEFAULT'])
+    app['writer'] = DatabaseWriter(app['db_path'])
+
+
+def insert_to_config(app, conf=None, db_file=None):
+    db_file = db_file if db_file else 'DEFAULT'
+    app['config'] = conf if conf else config
+    app['db_path'] = conf['PATH'][db_file]
+    app['backup'] = re.sub(r'\.db$', '.backup.db', app['db_path'])
+    assert app['db_path'] != app['backup']
 
 
 async def cleanup_background_tasks(app):
@@ -66,11 +77,9 @@ async def cleanup_background_tasks(app):
     app['writer'].close()
 
 
-def create_app(**kwargs):
+def create_app(conf, db_path='DEFAULT', **kwargs):
     app = web.Application()
-    app['config'] = config
-    app['db_path'] = config['PATH']['DEFAULT']
-    app['backup'] = config['PATH']['BACKUP']
+    insert_to_config(app, conf, db_path)
     app.on_startup.append(setup_db_schema)
     app.on_startup.append(start_background_tasks)
     app['reader'] = obtain_connection(app['db_path'], True)
@@ -102,11 +111,15 @@ async def run_app(app):
         await stop_app(runner)
 
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    appl = create_app(close_timeout=5.0)
+def __run_app():
+    appl = create_app(conf=config, db_path='TEST', close_timeout=5.0)
     try:
         asyncio.run(web.run_app(appl, access_log=logger, host=config['HOST'], port=config['PORT']))
     except asyncio.CancelledError:
         pass
     except ValueError:
         pass
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    __run_app()