diff --git a/test/bdd/test_db.py b/test/bdd/test_db.py
index 1a7eef7c..68a2a8f2 100644
--- a/test/bdd/test_db.py
+++ b/test/bdd/test_db.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import re
 from collections import defaultdict
 
 import psycopg
+import psycopg.sql as pysql
 
 import pytest
 from pytest_bdd import when, then, given
@@ -50,6 +51,34 @@ def _collect_place_ids(conn):
     return pids
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def row_factory(db_conn):
+    def _insert_row(table, **data):
+        columns = []
+        placeholders = []
+        values = []
+        for k, v in data.items():
+            columns.append(pysql.Identifier(k))
+            if isinstance(v, tuple):
+                placeholders.append(pysql.SQL(v[0]))
+                values.append(v[1])
+            elif isinstance(v, (pysql.Literal, pysql.SQL)):
+                placeholders.append(v)
+            else:
+                placeholders.append(pysql.Placeholder())
+                values.append(v)
+
+        sql = pysql.SQL("INSERT INTO {table} ({columns}) VALUES({values})")\
+                   .format(table=pysql.Identifier(table),
+                           columns=pysql.SQL(',').join(columns),
+                           values=pysql.SQL(',').join(placeholders))
+
+        db_conn.execute(sql, values)
+        db_conn.commit()
+
+    return _insert_row
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def test_config_env(pytestconfig):
     dbname = pytestconfig.getini('nominatim_test_db')
@@ -85,18 +114,19 @@ def import_places(db_conn, named, datatable, node_grid):
 
 
 @given(step_parse('the entrances'), target_fixture=None)
-def import_place_entrances(db_conn, datatable, node_grid):
+def import_place_entrances(row_factory, datatable, node_grid):
     """ Insert todo rows into the place_entrance table.
     """
-    with db_conn.cursor() as cur:
-        for row in datatable[1:]:
-            data = PlaceColumn(node_grid).add_row(datatable[0], row, False)
-            assert data.columns['osm_type'] == 'N'
+    for row in datatable[1:]:
+        data = PlaceColumn(node_grid).add_row(datatable[0], row, False)
+        assert data.columns['osm_type'] == 'N'
 
-            cur.execute("""INSERT INTO place_entrance (osm_id, type, extratags, geometry)
-                           VALUES (%s, %s, %s, {})""".format(data.get_wkt()),
-                        (data.columns['osm_id'], data.columns['type'],
-                         data.columns.get('extratags')))
+        params = {'osm_id': data.columns['osm_id'],
+                  'type': data.columns['type'],
+                  'extratags': data.columns.get('extratags'),
+                  'geometry': pysql.SQL(data.get_wkt())}
+
+        row_factory('place_entrance', **params)
 
 
 @given(step_parse('the postcodes'), target_fixture=None)
@@ -135,43 +165,41 @@ def import_place_postcode(db_conn, datatable, node_grid):
 
 
 @given('the ways', target_fixture=None)
-def import_ways(db_conn, datatable):
+def import_ways(row_factory, datatable):
     """ Import raw ways into the osm2pgsql way middle table.
     """
-    with db_conn.cursor() as cur:
-        id_idx = datatable[0].index('id')
-        node_idx = datatable[0].index('nodes')
-        for line in datatable[1:]:
-            tags = psycopg.types.json.Json(
-                {k[5:]: v for k, v in zip(datatable[0], line)
-                 if k.startswith("tags+")})
-            nodes = [int(x) for x in line[node_idx].split(',')]
-
-            cur.execute("INSERT INTO planet_osm_ways (id, nodes, tags) VALUES (%s, %s, %s)",
-                        (line[id_idx], nodes, tags))
+    id_idx = datatable[0].index('id')
+    node_idx = datatable[0].index('nodes')
+    for line in datatable[1:]:
+        row_factory('planet_osm_ways',
+                    id=line[id_idx],
+                    nodes=[int(x) for x in line[node_idx].split(',')],
+                    tags=psycopg.types.json.Json(
+                        {k[5:]: v for k, v in zip(datatable[0], line)
+                         if k.startswith("tags+")}))
 
 
 @given('the relations', target_fixture=None)
-def import_rels(db_conn, datatable):
+def import_rels(row_factory, datatable):
     """ Import raw relations into the osm2pgsql relation middle table.
     """
-    with db_conn.cursor() as cur:
-        id_idx = datatable[0].index('id')
-        memb_idx = datatable[0].index('members')
-        for line in datatable[1:]:
-            tags = psycopg.types.json.Json(
-                {k[5:]: v for k, v in zip(datatable[0], line)
-                 if k.startswith("tags+")})
-            members = []
-            if line[memb_idx]:
-                for member in line[memb_idx].split(','):
-                    m = re.fullmatch(r'\s*([RWN])(\d+)(?::(\S+))?\s*', member)
-                    if not m:
-                        raise ValueError(f'Illegal member {member}.')
-                    members.append({'ref': int(m[2]), 'role': m[3] or '', 'type': m[1]})
+    id_idx = datatable[0].index('id')
+    memb_idx = datatable[0].index('members')
+    for line in datatable[1:]:
+        tags = psycopg.types.json.Json(
+            {k[5:]: v for k, v in zip(datatable[0], line)
+             if k.startswith("tags+")})
+        members = []
+        if line[memb_idx]:
+            for member in line[memb_idx].split(','):
+                m = re.fullmatch(r'\s*([RWN])(\d+)(?::(\S+))?\s*', member)
+                if not m:
+                    raise ValueError(f'Illegal member {member}.')
+                members.append({'ref': int(m[2]), 'role': m[3] or '', 'type': m[1]})
 
-            cur.execute('INSERT INTO planet_osm_rels (id, tags, members) VALUES (%s, %s, %s)',
-                        (int(line[id_idx]), tags, psycopg.types.json.Json(members)))
+        row_factory('planet_osm_rels',
+                    id=int(line[id_idx]), tags=tags,
+                    members=psycopg.types.json.Json(members))
 
 
 @when('importing', target_fixture='place_ids')