diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index fc2441c..ed34d3d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "bcrypt": "^5.1.1",
-        "better-sqlite3": "^8.1.0",
+        "better-sqlite3": "^12.4.1",
         "body-parser": "^1.20.2",
         "check-password-strength": "^2.0.7",
         "cookie-parser": "^1.4.6",
@@ -2163,13 +2163,17 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/better-sqlite3": {
-      "version": "8.1.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/better-sqlite3/-/better-sqlite3-8.1.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-p1m09H+Oi8R9TPj810pdNswMFuVgRNgCJEWypp6jlkOgSwMIrNyuj3hW78xEuBRGok5RzeaUW8aBtTWF3l/TQA==",
+      "version": "12.4.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/better-sqlite3/-/better-sqlite3-12.4.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-3yVdyZhklTiNrtg+4WqHpJpFDd+WHTg2oM7UcR80GqL05AOV0xEJzc6qNvFYoEtE+hRp1n9MpN6/+4yhlGkDXQ==",
       "hasInstallScript": true,
+      "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "bindings": "^1.5.0",
-        "prebuild-install": "^7.1.0"
+        "prebuild-install": "^7.1.1"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": "20.x || 22.x || 23.x || 24.x"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/binary-extensions": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e961cb2..3deeb81 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "soul-cli",
-  "version": "0.8.2",
+  "version": "0.8.4",
   "description": "A SQLite REST and Realtime server",
   "main": "src/server.js",
   "bin": {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "dev": "npm run swagger-autogen && cross-env NO_CLI=true nodemon src/server.js",
     "cli": "nodemon src/server.js --database foobar.db",
     "swagger-autogen": "cross-env NO_CLI=true node src/swagger/index.js",
-    "test": "cross-env CI=true NODE_ENV=test NO_CLI=true DB=test.db CORE_PORT=8001 jest --testTimeout=10000",
+    "test": "cross-env CI=true NODE_ENV=test NO_CLI=true DB=test.db CORE_PORT=8001 AUTH=true TOKEN_SECRET=test-secret INITIAL_USER_USERNAME=admin INITIAL_USER_PASSWORD=Admin123#Test jest --testTimeout=10000 --forceExit",
     "prepare": "husky install",
     "lint": "eslint . --fix --max-warnings=0",
     "format": "prettier . --write"
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
   "homepage": "https://github.com/thevahidal/soul#readme",
   "dependencies": {
     "bcrypt": "^5.1.1",
-    "better-sqlite3": "^8.1.0",
+    "better-sqlite3": "^12.4.4",
     "body-parser": "^1.20.2",
     "check-password-strength": "^2.0.7",
     "cookie-parser": "^1.4.6",
diff --git a/src/controllers/auth/tables.js b/src/controllers/auth/tables.js
index 550cd46..960e345 100644
--- a/src/controllers/auth/tables.js
+++ b/src/controllers/auth/tables.js
@@ -49,13 +49,20 @@ const createDefaultTables = async () => {
   // create _roles table
   if (!roleTable) {
     tableService.createTable(ROLES_TABLE, schema.roleSchema);
+  }
 
-    // create a default role in the _roles table
+  // create a default role in the _roles table if it doesn't exist
+  try {
     const role = rowService.save({
       tableName: ROLES_TABLE,
       fields: { name: constantRoles.DEFAULT_ROLE },
     });
     roleId = role.lastInsertRowid;
+  } catch (e) {
+    if (e.code !== 'SQLITE_CONSTRAINT_UNIQUE') {
+      throw e;
+    }
+    // role already exists, ignore
   }
 
   // create _roles_permissions table
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 5a1776b..d9d5615 100755
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ if (config.auth) {
 setInterval(
   removeRevokedRefreshTokens,
   authConstants.REVOKED_REFRESH_TOKENS_REMOVAL_TIME_RANGE,
-);
+).unref();
 
 // If the user has passed custom CLI commands run the command and exit to avoid running the server
 runCLICommands();
diff --git a/src/swagger/swagger.json b/src/swagger/swagger.json
index c55db4b..3083aee 100644
--- a/src/swagger/swagger.json
+++ b/src/swagger/swagger.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "swagger": "2.0",
   "info": {
-    "version": "0.8.1",
+    "version": "0.8.4",
     "title": "Soul API",
     "description": "API Documentation for <b>Soul</b>, a SQLite REST and realtime server. "
   },