diff --git a/docs/devnotes b/docs/devnotes
index 5ab623e..e834574 100644
--- a/docs/devnotes
+++ b/docs/devnotes
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 
 [[ TODO ]]
 
--MD5 Index
-  -add column, fp_count NUMBER (number of fingerprints for this md5 schema)
-  -complete populating the second index
+[ MD5 Index ]
+-modify fingerprint compare feature to use the index
 
 -add "-idxf" "--index_force" to force a re-index
   -first give info about current index
diff --git a/libs/fingerprint_index.py b/libs/fingerprint_index.py
index d0c4bd6..6dc741b 100644
--- a/libs/fingerprint_index.py
+++ b/libs/fingerprint_index.py
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ class FingerprintIndex:
       else:
         logging.info("No index file found, creating index now...")
         self.createIndex(fp_dir)
+        self.db_conn = sql.connect(fq_fpidx)
     except:
-      raise FingerprintIndexOpen("Error opening/creating an index file")
-    finally:
       if self.db_conn:
         self.db_conn.close()
       self.db_conn = None
+      raise FingerprintIndexOpen("Error opening/creating an index file")
 
   #
   def createIndex(self, fp_dir):