diff --git a/datasette/database.py b/datasette/database.py
index 350c4e9c..f8365f5c 100644
--- a/datasette/database.py
+++ b/datasette/database.py
@@ -95,7 +95,10 @@ class Database:
         )
 
     async def execute_write(self, sql, params=None, executescript=False, block=False):
-        assert not (executescript and params), "Cannot use params with executescript=True"
+        assert not (
+            executescript and params
+        ), "Cannot use params with executescript=True"
+
         def _inner(conn):
             with conn:
                 if executescript:
diff --git a/datasette/utils/internal_db.py b/datasette/utils/internal_db.py
index 40fe719e..80babff8 100644
--- a/datasette/utils/internal_db.py
+++ b/datasette/utils/internal_db.py
@@ -2,22 +2,14 @@ import textwrap
 
 
 async def init_internal_db(db):
-    await db.execute_write(
-        textwrap.dedent(
-            """
+    create_tables_sql = textwrap.dedent(
+        """
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS databases (
         database_name TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
         path TEXT,
         is_memory INTEGER,
         schema_version INTEGER
-    )
-    """
-        ),
-        block=True,
-    )
-    await db.execute_write(
-        textwrap.dedent(
-            """
+    );
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS tables (
         database_name TEXT,
         table_name TEXT,
@@ -25,14 +17,7 @@ async def init_internal_db(db):
         sql TEXT,
         PRIMARY KEY (database_name, table_name),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name) REFERENCES databases(database_name)
-    )
-    """
-        ),
-        block=True,
-    )
-    await db.execute_write(
-        textwrap.dedent(
-            """
+    );
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS columns (
         database_name TEXT,
         table_name TEXT,
@@ -46,14 +31,7 @@ async def init_internal_db(db):
         PRIMARY KEY (database_name, table_name, name),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name) REFERENCES databases(database_name),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name, table_name) REFERENCES tables(database_name, table_name)
-    )
-    """
-        ),
-        block=True,
-    )
-    await db.execute_write(
-        textwrap.dedent(
-            """
+    );
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS indexes (
         database_name TEXT,
         table_name TEXT,
@@ -65,14 +43,7 @@ async def init_internal_db(db):
         PRIMARY KEY (database_name, table_name, name),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name) REFERENCES databases(database_name),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name, table_name) REFERENCES tables(database_name, table_name)
-    )
-    """
-        ),
-        block=True,
-    )
-    await db.execute_write(
-        textwrap.dedent(
-            """
+    );
     CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS foreign_keys (
         database_name TEXT,
         table_name TEXT,
@@ -87,11 +58,10 @@ async def init_internal_db(db):
         PRIMARY KEY (database_name, table_name, id, seq),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name) REFERENCES databases(database_name),
         FOREIGN KEY (database_name, table_name) REFERENCES tables(database_name, table_name)
-    )
+    );
     """
-        ),
-        block=True,
-    )
+    ).strip()
+    await db.execute_write(create_tables_sql, block=True, executescript=True)
 
 
 async def populate_schema_tables(internal_db, db):
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 9ad7d569..29c92920 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -950,7 +950,9 @@ def test_trace(trace_debug):
         "select ",
     )
     for prefix in expected:
-        assert any(sql.startswith(prefix) for sql in sqls)
+        assert any(
+            sql.startswith(prefix) for sql in sqls
+        ), "No trace beginning with: {}".format(prefix)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/test_internals_database.py b/tests/test_internals_database.py
index 0a5c01a3..aa5676e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_internals_database.py
+++ b/tests/test_internals_database.py
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ async def test_execute_write_executescript(db):
     await db.execute_write(
         "create table foo (id integer primary key); create table bar (id integer primary key); ",
         executescript=True,
-        block=True
+        block=True,
     )
     table_names = await db.table_names()
     assert {"foo", "bar"}.issubset(table_names)
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ async def test_execute_write_executescript_not_allowed_with_params(db):
         await db.execute_write(
             "update roadside_attractions set name = ? where pk = ?",
             ["Mystery!", 1],
-            executescript=True
+            executescript=True,
         )