diff --git a/gramps/gen/db/generic.py b/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
index 2e0bf6467..692013081 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/db/generic.py
@@ -139,15 +139,22 @@ class DbGenericUndo(DbUndo):
         subitems = transaction.get_recnos()
 
         # Process all records in the transaction
-        for record_id in subitems:
-            (key, trans_type, handle, old_data, new_data) = \
-                pickle.loads(self.undodb[record_id])
+        try:
+            self.db.transaction_backend_begin()
+            for record_id in subitems:
+                (key, trans_type, handle, old_data, new_data) = \
+                    pickle.loads(self.undodb[record_id])
+
+                if key == REFERENCE_KEY:
+                    self.undo_reference(new_data, handle, self.mapbase[key])
+                else:
+                    self.undo_data(new_data, handle, self.mapbase[key],
+                                        db.emit, SIGBASE[key])
+            self.db.transaction_backend_commit()
+        except:
+            self.db.transaction_backend_abort()
+            raise
 
-            if key == REFERENCE_KEY:
-                self.undo_reference(new_data, handle, self.mapbase[key])
-            else:
-                self.undo_data(new_data, handle, self.mapbase[key],
-                                    db.emit, SIGBASE[key])
         # Notify listeners
         if db.undo_callback:
             db.undo_callback(_("_Undo %s")
@@ -847,6 +854,27 @@ class DbGeneric(DbWriteBase, DbReadBase, UpdateCallback, Callback):
             return self.get_table_func(table_name)
         return None
 
+    def transaction_backend_begin(self):
+        """
+        Lowlevel interface to the backend transaction.
+        Executes a db BEGIN;
+        """
+        pass
+
+    def transaction_backend_commit(self):
+        """
+        Lowlevel interface to the backend transaction.
+        Executes a db END;
+        """
+        pass
+
+    def transaction_backend_abort(self):
+        """
+        Lowlevel interface to the backend transaction.
+        Executes a db ROLLBACK;
+        """
+        pass
+
     def transaction_begin(self, transaction):
         """
         Transactions are handled automatically by the db layer.
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi.py b/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi.py
index 096792b3a..1874700cb 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/dbapi.py
@@ -329,6 +329,27 @@ class DBAPI(DbGeneric):
     def close_backend(self):
         self.dbapi.close()
 
+    def transaction_backend_begin(self):
+        """
+        Lowlevel interface to the backend transaction.
+        Executes a db BEGIN;
+        """
+        self.dbapi.begin()
+
+    def transaction_backend_commit(self):
+        """
+        Lowlevel interface to the backend transaction.
+        Executes a db END;
+        """
+        self.dbapi.commit()
+
+    def transaction_backend_abort(self):
+        """
+        Lowlevel interface to the backend transaction.
+        Executes a db ROLLBACK;
+        """
+        self.dbapi.rollback()
+
     def transaction_begin(self, transaction):
         """
         Transactions are handled automatically by the db layer.