diff --git a/src/PostgREST/Auth.hs b/src/PostgREST/Auth.hs
index 597dae421..6f42eafbb 100644
--- a/src/PostgREST/Auth.hs
+++ b/src/PostgREST/Auth.hs
@@ -53,14 +53,14 @@ checkPass :: Text -> Text -> Bool
 checkPass = (. cs) . validatePassword . cs
 
 setRole :: Text -> H.Tx P.Postgres s ()
-setRole role = H.unitEx $ B.Stmt ("set role " <> cs (pgFmtLit role)) V.empty True
+setRole role = H.unitEx $ B.Stmt ("set local role " <> cs (pgFmtLit role)) V.empty True
 
 resetRole :: H.Tx P.Postgres s ()
 resetRole = H.unitEx [H.stmt|reset role|]
 
 setUserId :: Text -> H.Tx P.Postgres s ()
 setUserId uid = if uid /= "" then
-  H.unitEx $ B.Stmt ("set user_vars.user_id = " <> cs (pgFmtLit uid)) V.empty True
+  H.unitEx $ B.Stmt ("set local user_vars.user_id = " <> cs (pgFmtLit uid)) V.empty True
 else
   resetUserId
 
diff --git a/src/PostgREST/Main.hs b/src/PostgREST/Main.hs
index acae88bd6..e7a9d40ef 100644
--- a/src/PostgREST/Main.hs
+++ b/src/PostgREST/Main.hs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ main = do
 
   runSettings appSettings $ middle $ \req respond -> do
     body <- strictRequestBody req
-    resOrError <- liftIO $ H.session pool $ H.tx Nothing $
+    resOrError <- liftIO $ H.session pool $ H.tx (Just (H.ReadUncommitted, Just True)) $
       authenticated conf (app conf body) req
     either (respond . errResponse) respond resOrError
 
diff --git a/test/SpecHelper.hs b/test/SpecHelper.hs
index a9c5df075..e24c75fb1 100644
--- a/test/SpecHelper.hs
+++ b/test/SpecHelper.hs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ withApp perform = do
 
   perform $ middle $ \req resp -> do
     body <- strictRequestBody req
-    result <- liftIO $ H.session pool $ H.tx Nothing
+    result <- liftIO $ H.session pool $ H.tx (Just (H.ReadUncommitted, Just True))
       $ authenticated cfg (app cfg body) req
     either (resp . errResponse) resp result