diff --git a/00_core.ipynb b/00_core.ipynb
index 8767684..781a766 100644
--- a/00_core.ipynb
+++ b/00_core.ipynb
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@
     "class Database:\n",
     "    \"A connection to a SQLAlchemy database\"\n",
     "\n",
-    "    def __init__(self, conn_str):\n",
+    "    def __init__(self, conn_str, engine_kws=None):\n",
     "        self.conn_str = conn_str\n",
-    "        self.engine = sa.create_engine(conn_str)\n",
+    "        self.engine = sa.create_engine(conn_str, **(engine_kws or {}))\n",
     "        self.meta = sa.MetaData()\n",
     "        self.meta.reflect(bind=self.engine)\n",
     "        self.meta.bind = self.engine\n",
diff --git a/fastsql/core.py b/fastsql/core.py
index f12cc56..b95a92a 100644
--- a/fastsql/core.py
+++ b/fastsql/core.py
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ def _db_str(path):
 class Database:
     "A connection to a SQLAlchemy database"
 
-    def __init__(self, conn_str):
+    def __init__(self, conn_str, engine_kws=None):
         self.conn_str = conn_str
-        self.engine = sa.create_engine(conn_str)
+        self.engine = sa.create_engine(conn_str, **(engine_kws or {}))
         self.meta = sa.MetaData()
         self.meta.reflect(bind=self.engine)
         self.meta.bind = self.engine