diff --git a/activity.go b/activity.go
index 71b80d6..db5228c 100644
--- a/activity.go
+++ b/activity.go
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ saveit:
 }
 
 func iszonked(userid int64, xid string) bool {
-	row := stmtFindZonk.QueryRow(userid, xid)
 	var id int64
+	row := stmtFindZonk.QueryRow(userid, xid)
 	err := row.Scan(&id)
 	if err == nil {
 		return true
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ func needxonkid(user *WhatAbout, xid string) bool {
 		log.Printf("already zonked: %s", xid)
 		return false
 	}
-	row := stmtFindXonk.QueryRow(user.ID, xid)
 	var id int64
+	row := stmtFindXonk.QueryRow(user.ID, xid)
 	err := row.Scan(&id)
 	if err == nil {
 		return false
@@ -1294,8 +1294,8 @@ var handfull = cache.New(cache.Options{Filler: func(name string) (string, bool)
 		log.Printf("bad fish name: %s", name)
 		return "", true
 	}
-	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(name, "fishname")
 	var href string
+	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(name, "fishname")
 	err := row.Scan(&href)
 	if err == nil {
 		return href, true
@@ -1399,8 +1399,8 @@ func ingestpubkey(origin string, obj junk.Junk) {
 		obj = keyobj
 	}
 	keyname, ok := obj.GetString("id")
-	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(keyname, "pubkey")
 	var data string
+	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(keyname, "pubkey")
 	err := row.Scan(&data)
 	if err == nil {
 		return
diff --git a/fun.go b/fun.go
index 5cb210b..12be36e 100644
--- a/fun.go
+++ b/fun.go
@@ -494,8 +494,8 @@ func originate(u string) string {
 }
 
 var allhandles = cache.New(cache.Options{Filler: func(xid string) (string, bool) {
-	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(xid, "handle")
 	var handle string
+	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(xid, "handle")
 	err := row.Scan(&handle)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("need to get a handle: %s", xid)
@@ -581,8 +581,8 @@ func ziggy(userid int64) *KeyInfo {
 }
 
 var zaggies = cache.New(cache.Options{Filler: func(keyname string) (*rsa.PublicKey, bool) {
-	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(keyname, "pubkey")
 	var data string
+	row := stmtGetXonker.QueryRow(keyname, "pubkey")
 	err := row.Scan(&data)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("hitting the webs for missing pubkey: %s", keyname)
diff --git a/web.go b/web.go
index 376a839..83f4778 100644
--- a/web.go
+++ b/web.go
@@ -351,9 +351,9 @@ func inbox(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 		log.Printf("updating honker follow: %s", who)
 
+		var x string
 		db := opendatabase()
 		row := db.QueryRow("select xid from honkers where xid = ? and userid = ? and flavor in ('dub', 'undub')", who, user.ID)
-		var x string
 		err = row.Scan(&x)
 		if err != sql.ErrNoRows {
 			log.Printf("duplicate follow request: %s", who)
@@ -367,10 +367,10 @@ func inbox(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		go rubadubdub(user, j)
 	case "Accept":
 		log.Printf("updating honker accept: %s", who)
+		var name string
 		db := opendatabase()
 		row := db.QueryRow("select name from honkers where userid = ? and xid = ? and flavor in ('presub')",
 			user.ID, who)
-		var name string
 		err := row.Scan(&name)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Printf("can't get honker name: %s", err)
@@ -486,9 +486,9 @@ func serverinbox(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 		ont := "#" + m[1]
 		log.Printf("%s wants to follow %s", who, ont)
+		var x string
 		db := opendatabase()
 		row := db.QueryRow("select xid from honkers where name = ? and xid = ? and userid = ? and flavor in ('dub', 'undub')", ont, who, user.ID)
-		var x string
 		err = row.Scan(&x)
 		if err != sql.ErrNoRows {
 			log.Printf("duplicate follow request: %s", who)
@@ -1731,9 +1731,9 @@ func submithonker(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 	url = info.XID
 
+	var x string
 	db := opendatabase()
 	row := db.QueryRow("select xid from honkers where xid = ? and userid = ? and flavor in ('sub', 'unsub', 'peep')", url, u.UserID)
-	var x string
 	err = row.Scan(&x)
 	if err != sql.ErrNoRows {
 		http.Error(w, "it seems you are already subscribed to them", http.StatusInternalServerError)
@@ -1947,9 +1947,9 @@ func servememe(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 func servefile(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	xid := mux.Vars(r)["xid"]
-	row := stmtGetFileData.QueryRow(xid)
 	var media string
 	var data []byte
+	row := stmtGetFileData.QueryRow(xid)
 	err := row.Scan(&media, &data)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("error loading file: %s", err)