diff --git a/src/ingestion/db.rs b/src/ingestion/db.rs
index e08008d..762658e 100644
--- a/src/ingestion/db.rs
+++ b/src/ingestion/db.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use anyhow::anyhow;
 use entity::{expenditure, transaction};
 use sea_orm::sea_query::OnConflict;
 use sea_orm::{
-    ColumnTrait, DatabaseConnection, EntityTrait, Iterable, QuerySelect, TransactionTrait,
+    ColumnTrait, DatabaseConnection, DbErr, EntityTrait, Iterable, QuerySelect, TransactionTrait,
 };
 use sea_orm::{ConnectionTrait, DatabaseTransaction, QueryFilter};
 
@@ -28,10 +28,14 @@ pub async fn insert(
         .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
 
     for insertions in insertions.chunks(400) {
-        let tx = db.begin().await?;
         let (new_or_updated_insertions, inserted_transaction_ids) =
-            whittle_insertions(insertions, &tx).await?;
+            whittle_insertions(insertions, &db).await?;
 
+        if new_or_updated_insertions.is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        let tx = db.begin().await?;
         update_transactions(&tx, &new_or_updated_insertions).await?;
         update_expenditures(&tx, &new_or_updated_insertions, &inserted_transaction_ids).await?;
         tx.commit().await?;
@@ -52,6 +56,10 @@ async fn update_expenditures(
     new_or_updated_insertions: &[&Insertion],
     inserted_transaction_ids: &[String],
 ) -> Result<(), AppError> {
+    if new_or_updated_insertions.is_empty() {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
     // Expenditures can change as we re-categorise them, so we delete all the old ones and
     // insert an entirely new set to ensure we don't end up leaving old ones around.
     expenditure::Entity::delete_many()
@@ -81,7 +89,11 @@ async fn update_expenditures(
 async fn update_transactions(
     tx: &DatabaseTransaction,
     new_or_updated_insertions: &[&Insertion],
-) -> Result<(), AppError> {
+) -> Result<(), DbErr> {
+    if new_or_updated_insertions.is_empty() {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
     let transactions = new_or_updated_insertions
         .iter()
         .map(|i| &i.transaction)
@@ -100,7 +112,7 @@ async fn update_transactions(
 
 async fn whittle_insertions<'a>(
     insertions: &'a [Insertion],
-    tx: &DatabaseTransaction,
+    tx: &DatabaseConnection,
 ) -> Result<(Vec<&'a Insertion>, Vec<String>), AppError> {
     let existing_hashes = transaction::Entity::find()
         .select_only()
@@ -143,10 +155,10 @@ async fn notify_new_transactions(
 }
 
 mod tests {
-    use super::notify_new_transactions;
+    use super::{notify_new_transactions, update_expenditures, update_transactions};
     use anyhow::Error;
     use migration::MigratorTrait;
-    use sea_orm::DatabaseConnection;
+    use sea_orm::{DatabaseConnection, TransactionTrait};
     use sqlx::postgres::PgListener;
     use sqlx::PgPool;
     use testcontainers::runners::AsyncRunner;
@@ -178,6 +190,18 @@ mod tests {
         Ok((container, db, pool))
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_no_new_insertions() -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let (_container, db, _pool) = initialise().await?;
+        let insertions = vec![];
+        let tx = db.begin().await?;
+        update_transactions(&tx, &insertions).await?;
+        update_expenditures(&tx, &insertions, &vec![]).await?;
+        tx.commit().await?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_notify() -> Result<(), Error> {
         let (_container, db, pool) = initialise().await?;