diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ecf19da..36fa4f0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@ __pycache__/
 /build/
 /venv/
 bot.db/
+teams_bot_data/
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 8f7d696..aa6c24d 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ packages = find:
 python_requires = >=3.8
 install_requires =
     click
+    pickleDB
     qrcode
     deltachat
 
diff --git a/src/teams_bot/bot.py b/src/teams_bot/bot.py
index 099a7ae..9003cea 100644
--- a/src/teams_bot/bot.py
+++ b/src/teams_bot/bot.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import logging
 from threading import Event
 
+import pickledb
 import deltachat
 from deltachat import account_hookimpl
 from deltachat.capi import lib as dclib
 
-from .commands import help_message, set_display_name, set_avatar, get_crew_id
+from .commands import help_message, set_display_name, set_avatar
 
 
 class SetupPlugin:
@@ -29,8 +30,10 @@ class SetupPlugin:
 
 
 class RelayPlugin:
-    def __init__(self, account: deltachat.Account):
+    def __init__(self, account: deltachat.Account, kvstore: pickledb.PickleDB):
         self.account = account
+        self.kvstore = kvstore
+        self.crew = account.get_chat_by_id(kvstore.get("crew_id"))
 
     @account_hookimpl
     def ac_incoming_message(self, message: deltachat.Message):
@@ -47,7 +50,7 @@ class RelayPlugin:
             """:TODO handle chat name changes"""
             return
 
-        if message.chat.id == get_crew_id(self.account):
+        if message.chat.id == self.crew.id:
             if message.text.startswith("/"):
                 logging.debug(
                     "handling command by %s: %s",
@@ -64,7 +67,7 @@ class RelayPlugin:
                         quote=message,
                     )
                 if arguments[0] == "/set_avatar":
-                    result = set_avatar(self.account, message)
+                    result = set_avatar(self.account, message, self.crew)
                     self.reply(message.chat, result, quote=message)
             else:
                 logging.debug("Ignoring message, just the crew chatting")
@@ -119,9 +122,7 @@ class RelayPlugin:
     def forward_to_relay_group(self, message: deltachat.Message):
         """forward a request to a relay group; create one if it doesn't exist yet."""
         outsider = message.get_sender_contact().addr
-        crew_members = self.account.get_chat_by_id(
-            get_crew_id(self.account)
-        ).get_contacts()
+        crew_members = self.crew.get_contacts()
         crew_members.remove(self.account.get_self_contact())
         group_name = "[%s] %s" % (
             self.account.get_config("addr").split("@")[0],
@@ -157,9 +158,7 @@ class RelayPlugin:
             return False  # all relay groups were started by the teamsbot
         if chat.is_protected():
             return False  # relay groups don't need to be protected, so they are not
-        for crew_member in self.account.get_chat_by_id(
-            get_crew_id(self.account)
-        ).get_contacts():
+        for crew_member in self.crew.get_contacts():
             if crew_member not in chat.get_contacts():
                 return False  # all crew members have to be in any relay group
         return True
diff --git a/src/teams_bot/cli.py b/src/teams_bot/cli.py
index e2a139a..3e47981 100644
--- a/src/teams_bot/cli.py
+++ b/src/teams_bot/cli.py
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 import logging
+import pathlib
 import sys
 
+import pickledb
 import click
 import qrcode
 import deltachat
 
-from .bot import SetupPlugin, RelayPlugin, get_crew_id
+from .bot import SetupPlugin, RelayPlugin
 
 
 def set_log_level(verbose: int, db: str):
@@ -37,22 +39,27 @@ def teams_bot(ctx):
     "--password", type=str, default=None, help="the password of the email account"
 )
 @click.option(
-    "--db", type=str, default="bot.db/db.sqlite", help="path to the bot's database"
+    "--db_dir", type=str, default="teams_bot_data", help="path to the bot's database"
 )
 @click.option(
     "-v", "--verbose", count=True, help="show low level delta chat ffi events"
 )
 @click.pass_context
-def init(ctx, email: str, password: str, db: str, verbose: int):
+def init(ctx, email: str, password: str, db_dir: str, verbose: int):
     """Configure bot; create crew; add user to crew by scanning a QR code."""
-    set_log_level(verbose, db)
+    db_dir = pathlib.Path(db_dir)
+    delta_db = db_dir.joinpath("delta.sqlite")
+    pickle_path = db_dir.joinpath("pickle.db")
+    kvstore = pickledb.load(pickle_path, True)
 
-    ac = deltachat.Account(db)
+    set_log_level(verbose, delta_db)
+
+    ac = deltachat.Account(str(delta_db))
     ac.run_account(addr=email, password=password, show_ffi=verbose)
     ac.set_config("mvbox_move", "1")
     ac.set_config("sentbox_watch", "0")
 
-    crew_id_old = get_crew_id(ac)
+    crew_id_old = kvstore.get("crew_id")
 
     chat = ac.create_group_chat(
         "Team: {}".format(ac.get_config("addr")), contacts=[], verified=True
@@ -87,13 +94,20 @@ def init(ctx, email: str, password: str, db: str, verbose: int):
 
     if crew_id_old:
         setupplugin.message_sent.clear()
+        old_crew = ac.get_chat_by_id(crew_id_old)
+        old_crew.set_name(f"Old Team: {ac.get_config('addr')}")
+        new_crew = [contact.addr for contact in chat.get_contacts()]
+        new_crew_emails = " or ".join(new_crew)
+        quit_message = f"There is a new Group for the Team now; you can ask {new_crew_emails} to add you to it."
+        logging.debug(
+            "Sending quit message to old crew with ID %s: %s",
+            old_crew.id,
+            quit_message,
+        )
         try:
-            new_crew_id = get_crew_id(
-                ac, setupplugin
-            )  # notify old crew about who created the new crew
-            assert (
-                new_crew_id == chat.id
-            ), f"Bot found different 'new crew' than the one we just created; consider deleting {db}"
+            old_crew.send_text(quit_message)
+            setupplugin.outgoing_messages += 1
+            old_crew.remove_contact(ac.get_self_contact())
             setupplugin.message_sent.wait()
         except ValueError as e:
             logging.warning("Could not notify the old crew: %s", str(e))
@@ -101,22 +115,31 @@ def init(ctx, email: str, password: str, db: str, verbose: int):
     sys.stdout.flush()  # flush stdout to actually show the messages above
     ac.shutdown()
 
+    kvstore.set("crew_id", chat.id)
+    logging.info("Successfully changed crew ID to the new group.")
+
 
 @teams_bot.command()
 @click.option(
-    "--db", type=str, default="bot.db/db.sqlite", help="path to the bot's database"
+    "--db_dir", type=str, default="teams_bot_data", help="path to the bot's database"
 )
 @click.option(
     "-v", "--verbose", count=True, help="show low level delta chat ffi events"
 )
 @click.pass_context
-def run(ctx, db: str, verbose: int):
+def run(ctx, db_dir: str, verbose: int):
     """Run the bot, so it relays messages between the crew and the outside."""
-    set_log_level(verbose, db)
+    db_dir = pathlib.Path(db_dir)
+    delta_db = db_dir.joinpath("delta.sqlite")
+    pickle_path = db_dir.joinpath("pickle.db")
+    kvstore = pickledb.load(pickle_path, True)
 
-    ac = deltachat.Account(db)
+    logging.debug("delta_db: %s", type(delta_db))
+    set_log_level(verbose, delta_db)
+
+    ac = deltachat.Account(str(delta_db))
     display_name = ac.get_config("displayname")
-    ac.run_account(account_plugins=[RelayPlugin(ac)], show_ffi=verbose)
+    ac.run_account(account_plugins=[RelayPlugin(ac, kvstore)], show_ffi=verbose)
     ac.set_config("displayname", display_name)
     try:
         ac.wait_shutdown()
diff --git a/src/teams_bot/commands.py b/src/teams_bot/commands.py
index b6bb106..668d7ae 100644
--- a/src/teams_bot/commands.py
+++ b/src/teams_bot/commands.py
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ def set_display_name(account: deltachat.Account, display_name: str) -> str:
     return "Display name changed to " + display_name
 
 
-def set_avatar(account: deltachat.Account, message: deltachat.Message) -> str:
+def set_avatar(
+    account: deltachat.Account, message: deltachat.Message, crew: deltachat.Chat
+) -> str:
     """Set the avatar of the bot.
 
     :return: a success/failure message
@@ -34,54 +36,5 @@ def set_avatar(account: deltachat.Account, message: deltachat.Message) -> str:
         return "Please attach an image so the avatar can be changed."
     logging.debug("Found file with MIMEtype %s", message.filemime)
     account.set_avatar(message.filename)
-    crew = account.get_chat_by_id(get_crew_id(account))
     crew.set_profile_image(message.filename)
     return "Avatar changed to this image."
-
-
-def get_crew_id(ac: deltachat.Account, setupplugin=None) -> int:
-    """Get the group ID of the crew group if it exists; warn old crews if they might still believe they are the crew.
-
-    :param ac: the account object of the bot.
-    :param setupplugin: only if this function is run during `teams-bot init`.
-    :return: the chat ID of the crew group, if there is none, return 0.
-    """
-    crew_id = 0
-    for chat in reversed(ac.get_chats()):
-        if (
-            chat.is_protected()
-            and chat.num_contacts() > 1
-            and chat.get_name() == f"Team: {ac.get_config('addr')}"
-        ):
-            logging.debug(
-                "Chat with ID %s and title %s could be a crew", chat.id, chat.get_name()
-            )
-            if crew_id > 0:
-                old_crew = ac.get_chat_by_id(crew_id)
-                old_crew.set_name(f"Old Team: {ac.get_config('addr')}")
-                new_crew = [contact.addr for contact in chat.get_contacts()]
-                new_crew_emails = " or ".join(new_crew)
-                quit_message = f"There is a new Group for the Team now; you can ask {new_crew_emails} to add you to it."
-                logging.debug(
-                    "Sending quit message to old crew with ID %s: %s",
-                    old_crew.id,
-                    quit_message,
-                )
-                old_crew.send_text(quit_message)
-                if setupplugin:
-                    setupplugin.outgoing_messages += 1
-                old_crew.remove_contact(ac.get_self_contact())
-            crew_id = chat.id
-        else:
-            logging.debug(
-                "Chat with ID %s and title %s is not a crew.", chat.id, chat.get_name()
-            )
-    if crew_id:
-        crew_members = [
-            contact.addr for contact in ac.get_chat_by_id(crew_id).get_contacts()
-        ]
-        crew_emails = " or ".join(crew_members)
-        logging.debug("The current crew has ID %s and members %s", crew_id, crew_emails)
-    else:
-        logging.debug("Currently there is no crew")
-    return crew_id
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 3e7cee4..f9cc887 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import os
+
+import pickledb
 import requests
 
 import deltachat
@@ -79,14 +81,14 @@ def tmp_file_path(request, tmpdir):
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def relaycrew(crew):
-    crew.bot.relayplugin = RelayPlugin(crew.bot)
+    crew.bot.relayplugin = RelayPlugin(crew.bot, crew.kvstore)
     crew.bot.add_account_plugin(crew.bot.relayplugin)
     assert not crew.bot.relayplugin.is_relay_group(crew)
     yield crew
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def crew(teams_bot, teams_user):
+def crew(teams_bot, teams_user, tmpdir):
     from teams_bot.bot import SetupPlugin
 
     crew = teams_bot.create_group_chat(
@@ -109,6 +111,8 @@ def crew(teams_bot, teams_user):
         print("User received message:", last_message)
         last_message = teams_user.wait_next_incoming_message().text
 
+    crew.kvstore = pickledb.load(tmpdir + "pickle.db", True)
+    crew.kvstore.set("crew_id", crew.id)
     yield crew
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_bot.py b/tests/test_bot.py
index db3b021..3b428fc 100644
--- a/tests/test_bot.py
+++ b/tests/test_bot.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import deltachat
 from deltachat.capi import lib as dclib
 
-from teams_bot.commands import get_crew_id
-
 
 def test_not_relay_groups(relaycrew, outsider):
     bot = relaycrew.bot
@@ -71,10 +69,7 @@ def test_relay_group_forwarding(relaycrew, outsider):
         bot_relay_group.get_messages()[0].get_sender_contact() == bot.get_self_contact()
     )
     assert not bot_relay_group.is_protected()
-    assert (
-        bot.get_chat_by_id(get_crew_id(bot)).get_contacts()
-        == bot_relay_group.get_contacts()
-    )
+    assert relaycrew.get_contacts() == bot_relay_group.get_contacts()
     assert bot.relayplugin.is_relay_group(bot_relay_group)
 
     # send direct reply, should be forwarded
diff --git a/tests/test_commands.py b/tests/test_commands.py
deleted file mode 100644
index d3f4aa8..0000000
--- a/tests/test_commands.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-from teams_bot.commands import get_crew_id
-
-
-def test_get_crew_id(crew):
-    """Test if crew is properly found in delta chat database."""
-    assert crew.id == get_crew_id(crew.bot)
-
-
-def test_disable_old_crew(crew, outsider):
-    """Test if crew is properly disabled if someone else creates a new crew on the command line."""
-    old_crew_id = get_crew_id(crew.bot)
-
-    # outsider fires up the command line and creates a new crew
-    new_crew = crew.bot.create_group_chat(
-        f"Team: {crew.bot.get_config('addr')}", verified=True
-    )
-    assert new_crew.id != old_crew_id
-    qr = new_crew.get_join_qr()
-
-    # prepare setupplugin for waiting on second group join
-    crew.bot.setupplugin.member_added.clear()
-    crew.bot.setupplugin.crew_id = new_crew.id
-
-    # outsider joins new crew
-    outsider.qr_join_chat(qr)
-    crew.bot.setupplugin.member_added.wait(timeout=30)
-    assert len(new_crew.get_contacts()) == 2
-    assert new_crew.get_name() == f"Team: {crew.bot.get_config('addr')}"
-    assert new_crew.is_protected()
-    assert new_crew.id == get_crew_id(crew.bot, crew.bot.setupplugin)
-
-    # old user receives disable warning
-    crew.user.wait_next_incoming_message()
-    quit_message = crew.user.wait_next_incoming_message()
-    assert "There is a new Group for the Team now" in quit_message.text
-    assert outsider.get_config("addr") in quit_message.text