diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/cache/base/index.ts b/packages/backend-core/src/cache/base/index.ts
index 264984c6a5..23c952c7b2 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/cache/base/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/cache/base/index.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export default class BaseCache {
    */
   async withCache(
     key: string,
-    ttl: number,
+    ttl: number | null = null,
     fetchFn: any,
     opts = { useTenancy: true }
   ) {
diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts b/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts
index 221399325d..6be53a9c54 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ export class DatabaseImpl implements Database {
 
   async docExists(id: string): Promise<boolean> {
     try {
-      await this.get(id)
+      await this.performCall(db => () => db.head(id))
       return true
     } catch {
       return false