diff --git a/selda-postgresql.cabal b/selda-postgresql.cabal
--- a/selda-postgresql.cabal
+++ b/selda-postgresql.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:                selda-postgresql
-version:             0.1.2.1
+version:             0.1.2.2
 synopsis:            PostgreSQL backend for the Selda database EDSL.
 description:         PostgreSQL backend for the Selda database EDSL.
                      Requires the PostgreSQL @libpq@ development libraries to be
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
   build-depends:
       base             >=4.8     && <5
     , exceptions       >=0.8     && <0.9
-    , selda            >=0.1.3.2 && <0.2
+    , selda            >=0.1.4.1 && <0.2
     , text             >=1.0     && <1.3
   if !flag(haste)
     build-depends:
diff --git a/src/Database/Selda/PostgreSQL.hs b/src/Database/Selda/PostgreSQL.hs
--- a/src/Database/Selda/PostgreSQL.hs
+++ b/src/Database/Selda/PostgreSQL.hs
@@ -69,27 +69,32 @@
 withPostgreSQL _ _ = return $ error "withPostgreSQL called in JS context"
 #else
 withPostgreSQL ci m = do
-  conn <- liftIO $ connectdb (pgConnString ci)
+  conn <- liftIO $ connectdb connstr
   st <- liftIO $ status conn
   case st of
     ConnectionOk -> do
-      let backend = pgBackend conn
+      let backend = pgBackend (decodeUtf8 connstr) conn
       liftIO $ runStmt backend "SET client_min_messages TO WARNING;" []
       runSeldaT m backend `finally` liftIO (finish conn)
     nope -> do
       connFailed nope
   where
+    connstr = pgConnString ci
     connFailed f = throwM $ DbError $ unwords
       [ "unable to connect to postgres server: " ++ show f
       ]
 
 -- | Create a `SeldaBackend` for PostgreSQL `Connection`
-pgBackend :: Connection -> SeldaBackend
-pgBackend c = SeldaBackend
+pgBackend :: T.Text       -- ^ Unique database identifier. Preferably the
+                          --   connection string used to open the connection.
+          -> Connection   -- ^ PostgreSQL connection object.
+          -> SeldaBackend
+pgBackend ident c = SeldaBackend
   { runStmt        = \q ps -> right <$> pgQueryRunner c False q ps
   , runStmtWithPK  = \q ps -> left <$> pgQueryRunner c True q ps
   , customColType  = pgColType
   , defaultKeyword = "DEFAULT"
+  , dbIdentifier   = ident
   }
   where
     left (Left x) = x