diff --git a/sqlite.go b/sqlite.go
index 908b387..f71ac6a 100644
--- a/sqlite.go
+++ b/sqlite.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package lite
 import (
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
@@ -12,10 +11,6 @@ import (
 	_ "github.com/ncruces/go-sqlite3/embed"
 )
 
-var (
-	ErrNotConnected = errors.New("the connect method must be called before any queries can be executed")
-)
-
 type database struct {
 	file   string
 	path   string
@@ -23,11 +18,10 @@ type database struct {
 }
 
 type Database interface {
-	Connect() error
 	Close() error
 	Exec(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (sql.Result, error)
 	Query(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sqlx.Rows, error)
-	QueryRow(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sqlx.Row, error)
+	QueryRow(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) *sqlx.Row
 	QueryIn(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sqlx.Rows, error)
 }
 
@@ -48,19 +42,13 @@ func New(opts ...Option) (Database, error) {
 		opt(db)
 	}
 
-	return db, nil
-}
-
-// connects to database file
-func (d *database) Connect() error {
-	db, err := sqlx.Open("sqlite3", fmt.Sprintf("file:%s/%s", d.path, d.file))
+	slite, err := sqlx.Open("sqlite3", fmt.Sprintf("file:%s/%s", db.path, db.file))
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return nil, err
 	}
+	db.sqlite = slite
 
-	d.sqlite = db
-
-	return nil
+	return db, nil
 }
 
 // closes database file connection
@@ -70,33 +58,21 @@ func (d *database) Close() error {
 
 // runs any updates, inserts, or any other queries that do not return rows
 func (d *database) Exec(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (sql.Result, error) {
-	if d.sqlite == nil {
-		return nil, ErrNotConnected
-	}
 	return d.sqlite.ExecContext(ctx, query, args...)
 }
 
 // runs basic data queries
 func (d *database) Query(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sqlx.Rows, error) {
-	if d.sqlite == nil {
-		return nil, ErrNotConnected
-	}
 	return d.sqlite.QueryxContext(ctx, query, args...)
 }
 
 // retrieves a single row from database
-func (d *database) QueryRow(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sqlx.Row, error) {
-	if d.sqlite == nil {
-		return nil, ErrNotConnected
-	}
-	return d.sqlite.QueryRowxContext(ctx, query, args...), nil
+func (d *database) QueryRow(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) *sqlx.Row {
+	return d.sqlite.QueryRowxContext(ctx, query, args...)
 }
 
 // runs queries that require parameters in an IN clause
 func (d *database) QueryIn(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...any) (*sqlx.Rows, error) {
-	if d.sqlite == nil {
-		return nil, ErrNotConnected
-	}
 	q, ar, err := sqlx.In(query, args...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err