diff --git a/bindings/python/src/lib.rs b/bindings/python/src/lib.rs
index d69ae3b8f..085d71b3b 100644
--- a/bindings/python/src/lib.rs
+++ b/bindings/python/src/lib.rs
@@ -267,20 +267,26 @@ impl Connection {
 #[allow(clippy::arc_with_non_send_sync)]
 #[pyfunction]
 pub fn connect(path: &str) -> Result<Connection> {
+    #[inline(always)]
+    fn open_or(
+        io: Arc<dyn limbo_core::IO>,
+        path: &str,
+    ) -> std::result::Result<Arc<limbo_core::Database>, PyErr> {
+        limbo_core::Database::open_file(io, path).map_err(|e| {
+            PyErr::new::<DatabaseError, _>(format!("Failed to open database: {:?}", e))
+        })
+    }
+
     match path {
         ":memory:" => {
             let io: Arc<dyn limbo_core::IO> = Arc::new(limbo_core::MemoryIO::new()?);
-            let db = limbo_core::Database::open_file(io.clone(), path).map_err(|e| {
-                PyErr::new::<DatabaseError, _>(format!("Failed to open database: {:?}", e))
-            })?;
+            let db = open_or(io.clone(), path)?;
             let conn: Rc<limbo_core::Connection> = db.connect();
             Ok(Connection { conn, io })
         }
         path => {
             let io: Arc<dyn limbo_core::IO> = Arc::new(limbo_core::PlatformIO::new()?);
-            let db = limbo_core::Database::open_file(io.clone(), path).map_err(|e| {
-                PyErr::new::<DatabaseError, _>(format!("Failed to open database: {:?}", e))
-            })?;
+            let db = open_or(io.clone(), path)?;
             let conn: Rc<limbo_core::Connection> = db.connect();
             Ok(Connection { conn, io })
         }