diff --git a/pkg/api/org.go b/pkg/api/org.go
index 797cf7de76b..2512938837b 100644
--- a/pkg/api/org.go
+++ b/pkg/api/org.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/api/response"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/infra/metrics"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/models"
-	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/services/sqlstore"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/setting"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/grafana/grafana/pkg/web"
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ func (hs *HTTPServer) CreateOrg(c *models.ReqContext) response.Response {
 	}
 
 	cmd.UserId = c.UserId
-	if err := sqlstore.CreateOrg(c.Req.Context(), &cmd); err != nil {
+	if err := hs.SQLStore.CreateOrg(c.Req.Context(), &cmd); err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, models.ErrOrgNameTaken) {
 			return response.Error(409, "Organization name taken", err)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/services/provisioning/dashboards/config_reader_test.go b/pkg/services/provisioning/dashboards/config_reader_test.go
index 7d04ae7d2d6..899654eda0d 100644
--- a/pkg/services/provisioning/dashboards/config_reader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/provisioning/dashboards/config_reader_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func TestDashboardsAsConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 		for i := 1; i <= 2; i++ {
 			orgCommand := models.CreateOrgCommand{Name: fmt.Sprintf("Main Org. %v", i)}
-			err := sqlstore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), &orgCommand)
+			err := store.CreateOrg(context.Background(), &orgCommand)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 		}
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/provisioning/notifiers/config_reader_test.go b/pkg/services/provisioning/notifiers/config_reader_test.go
index c8cae8b6886..8c78a108a37 100644
--- a/pkg/services/provisioning/notifiers/config_reader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/provisioning/notifiers/config_reader_test.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func TestNotificationAsConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 			for i := 1; i < 5; i++ {
 				orgCommand := models.CreateOrgCommand{Name: fmt.Sprintf("Main Org. %v", i)}
-				err := sqlstore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), &orgCommand)
+				err := sqlStore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), &orgCommand)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 			}
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/serviceaccounts/api/api_test.go b/pkg/services/serviceaccounts/api/api_test.go
index c017b3dee0d..b60e5361da7 100644
--- a/pkg/services/serviceaccounts/api/api_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/serviceaccounts/api/api_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestServiceAccountsAPI_CreateServiceAccount(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 
 	orgCmd := &models.CreateOrgCommand{Name: "Some Test Org"}
-	err := sqlstore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), orgCmd)
+	err := store.CreateOrg(context.Background(), orgCmd)
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 
 	type testCreateSATestCase struct {
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/alert_notification.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/alert_notification.go
index ee780c53a44..24aa1a6aacd 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/alert_notification.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/alert_notification.go
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ func (ss *SQLStore) UpdateAlertNotificationWithUid(ctx context.Context, cmd *mod
 }
 
 func (ss *SQLStore) SetAlertNotificationStateToCompleteCommand(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.SetAlertNotificationStateToCompleteCommand) error {
-	return inTransactionCtx(ctx, func(sess *DBSession) error {
+	return ss.WithTransactionalDbSession(ctx, func(sess *DBSession) error {
 		version := cmd.Version
 		var current models.AlertNotificationState
 		if _, err := sess.ID(cmd.Id).Get(&current); err != nil {
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ func (ss *SQLStore) SetAlertNotificationStateToPendingCommand(ctx context.Contex
 }
 
 func (ss *SQLStore) GetOrCreateAlertNotificationState(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.GetOrCreateNotificationStateQuery) error {
-	return inTransactionCtx(ctx, func(sess *DBSession) error {
+	return ss.WithTransactionalDbSession(ctx, func(sess *DBSession) error {
 		nj := &models.AlertNotificationState{}
 
 		exist, err := getAlertNotificationState(ctx, sess, cmd, nj)
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation.go
index 83f3e0f319f..05da314540d 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func NewSQLAnnotationRepo(sql *SQLStore) SQLAnnotationRepo {
 }
 
 func (r *SQLAnnotationRepo) Save(item *annotations.Item) error {
-	return inTransaction(func(sess *DBSession) error {
+	return r.sql.WithTransactionalDbSession(context.Background(), func(sess *DBSession) error {
 		tags := models.ParseTagPairs(item.Tags)
 		item.Tags = models.JoinTagPairs(tags)
 		item.Created = timeNow().UnixNano() / int64(time.Millisecond)
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup.go
index 0f9a181777b..24c06071da5 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 type AnnotationCleanupService struct {
 	batchSize int64
 	log       log.Logger
+	sqlstore  *SQLStore
 }
 
 const (
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ func (acs *AnnotationCleanupService) executeUntilDoneOrCancelled(ctx context.Con
 			return totalAffected, ctx.Err()
 		default:
 			var affected int64
-			err := withDbSession(ctx, x, func(session *DBSession) error {
+			err := withDbSession(ctx, acs.sqlstore.engine, func(session *DBSession) error {
 				res, err := session.Exec(sql)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup_test.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup_test.go
index b98792284c1..e3e0e4efa3d 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/annotation_cleanup_test.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func TestAnnotationCleanUp(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			cleaner := &AnnotationCleanupService{batchSize: 1, log: log.New("test-logger")}
+			cleaner := &AnnotationCleanupService{batchSize: 1, log: log.New("test-logger"), sqlstore: fakeSQL}
 			affectedAnnotations, affectedAnnotationTags, err := cleaner.CleanAnnotations(context.Background(), test.cfg)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func TestOldAnnotationsAreDeletedFirst(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err, "cannot insert annotation")
 
 	// run the clean up task to keep one annotation.
-	cleaner := &AnnotationCleanupService{batchSize: 1, log: log.New("test-logger")}
+	cleaner := &AnnotationCleanupService{batchSize: 1, log: log.New("test-logger"), sqlstore: fakeSQL}
 	_, err = cleaner.cleanAnnotations(context.Background(), setting.AnnotationCleanupSettings{MaxCount: 1}, alertAnnotationType)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/mockstore/mockstore.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/mockstore/mockstore.go
index f8b7deac7bf..6a1c9a56651 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/mockstore/mockstore.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/mockstore/mockstore.go
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ func (m *SQLStoreMock) GetOrgByNameHandler(ctx context.Context, query *models.Ge
 func (m *SQLStoreMock) CreateOrgWithMember(name string, userID int64) (models.Org, error) {
 	return *m.ExpectedOrg, nil
 }
+func (m *SQLStoreMock) CreateOrg(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.CreateOrgCommand) error {
+	return m.ExpectedError
+}
 
 func (m *SQLStoreMock) UpdateOrg(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.UpdateOrgCommand) error {
 	return m.ExpectedError
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/org.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/org.go
index 1cdd72a938a..af65873fb47 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/org.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/org.go
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ func (ss *SQLStore) CreateOrgWithMember(name string, userID int64) (models.Org,
 	return createOrg(name, userID, ss.engine)
 }
 
-func CreateOrg(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.CreateOrgCommand) error {
-	org, err := createOrg(cmd.Name, cmd.UserId, x)
+func (ss *SQLStore) CreateOrg(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.CreateOrgCommand) error {
+	org, err := createOrg(cmd.Name, cmd.UserId, ss.engine)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/org_test.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/org_test.go
index a86b268776e..ea002c51de5 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/org_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/org_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestAccountDataAccess(t *testing.T) {
 
 			for i := 1; i < 4; i++ {
 				cmd = &models.CreateOrgCommand{Name: fmt.Sprint("Org #", i)}
-				err = CreateOrg(context.Background(), cmd)
+				err = sqlStore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), cmd)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 
 				ids = append(ids, cmd.Result.Id)
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func TestAccountDataAccess(t *testing.T) {
 			sqlStore = InitTestDB(t)
 			for i := 1; i < 4; i++ {
 				cmd := &models.CreateOrgCommand{Name: fmt.Sprint("Org #", i)}
-				err := CreateOrg(context.Background(), cmd)
+				err := sqlStore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), cmd)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 			}
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/quota_test.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/quota_test.go
index 8358ce2baa2..f6c68284555 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/quota_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/quota_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func TestQuotaCommandsAndQueries(t *testing.T) {
 		UserId: 1,
 	}
 
-	err := CreateOrg(context.Background(), &userCmd)
+	err := sqlStore.CreateOrg(context.Background(), &userCmd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	orgId = userCmd.Result.Id
 
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go
index 7baa450cb99..f4833d90235 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	x       *xorm.Engine
 	dialect migrator.Dialect
 
 	sqlog log.Logger = log.New("sqlstore")
@@ -101,13 +100,11 @@ func newSQLStore(cfg *setting.Cfg, cacheService *localcache.CacheService, engine
 
 	ss.Dialect = migrator.NewDialect(ss.engine)
 
-	// temporarily still set global var
-	x = ss.engine
 	dialect = ss.Dialect
 
 	// Init repo instances
 	annotations.SetRepository(&SQLAnnotationRepo{sql: ss})
-	annotations.SetAnnotationCleaner(&AnnotationCleanupService{batchSize: ss.Cfg.AnnotationCleanupJobBatchSize, log: log.New("annotationcleaner")})
+	annotations.SetAnnotationCleaner(&AnnotationCleanupService{batchSize: ss.Cfg.AnnotationCleanupJobBatchSize, log: log.New("annotationcleaner"), sqlstore: ss})
 
 	// if err := ss.Reset(); err != nil {
 	// 	return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/store.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/store.go
index 8871a68d8fb..1de411c4bc0 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/store.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/store.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ type Store interface {
 	HasEditPermissionInFolders(ctx context.Context, query *models.HasEditPermissionInFoldersQuery) error
 	SearchDashboardSnapshots(ctx context.Context, query *models.GetDashboardSnapshotsQuery) error
 	GetOrgByName(name string) (*models.Org, error)
+	CreateOrg(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.CreateOrgCommand) error
 	CreateOrgWithMember(name string, userID int64) (models.Org, error)
 	UpdateOrg(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.UpdateOrgCommand) error
 	UpdateOrgAddress(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.UpdateOrgAddressCommand) error
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/team.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/team.go
index d78c1aa873e..d8325604d7f 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/team.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/team.go
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ func getTeamMember(sess *DBSession, orgId int64, teamId int64, userId int64) (mo
 
 // UpdateTeamMember updates a team member
 func (ss *SQLStore) UpdateTeamMember(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.UpdateTeamMemberCommand) error {
-	return inTransaction(func(sess *DBSession) error {
+	return ss.WithTransactionalDbSession(ctx, func(sess *DBSession) error {
 		return updateTeamMember(sess, cmd.OrgId, cmd.TeamId, cmd.UserId, cmd.Permission)
 	})
 }
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ func updateTeamMember(sess *DBSession, orgID, teamID, userID int64, permission m
 
 // RemoveTeamMember removes a member from a team
 func (ss *SQLStore) RemoveTeamMember(ctx context.Context, cmd *models.RemoveTeamMemberCommand) error {
-	return inTransaction(func(sess *DBSession) error {
+	return ss.WithTransactionalDbSession(ctx, func(sess *DBSession) error {
 		return removeTeamMember(sess, cmd)
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/transactions.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/transactions.go
index 7accf1a844c..341427527a7 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/transactions.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/transactions.go
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ func (ss *SQLStore) inTransactionWithRetry(ctx context.Context, fn func(ctx cont
 	}, retry)
 }
 
-func inTransactionWithRetry(callback DBTransactionFunc, retry int) error {
-	return inTransactionWithRetryCtx(context.Background(), x, callback, retry)
+func inTransactionWithRetry(callback DBTransactionFunc, engine *xorm.Engine, retry int) error {
+	return inTransactionWithRetryCtx(context.Background(), engine, callback, retry)
 }
 
 func inTransactionWithRetryCtx(ctx context.Context, engine *xorm.Engine, callback DBTransactionFunc, retry int) error {
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func inTransactionWithRetryCtx(ctx context.Context, engine *xorm.Engine, callbac
 
 		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * time.Duration(10))
 		sqlog.Info("Database locked, sleeping then retrying", "error", err, "retry", retry)
-		return inTransactionWithRetry(callback, retry+1)
+		return inTransactionWithRetry(callback, engine, retry+1)
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -91,11 +91,3 @@ func inTransactionWithRetryCtx(ctx context.Context, engine *xorm.Engine, callbac
 
 	return nil
 }
-
-func inTransaction(callback DBTransactionFunc) error {
-	return inTransactionWithRetry(callback, 0)
-}
-
-func inTransactionCtx(ctx context.Context, callback DBTransactionFunc) error {
-	return inTransactionWithRetryCtx(ctx, x, callback, 0)
-}
diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/user_test.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/user_test.go
index f91e70134ff..bd971fa6f66 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/user_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/user_test.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func TestUserDataAccess(t *testing.T) {
 		}()
 
 		orgCmd := &models.CreateOrgCommand{Name: "Some Test Org"}
-		err := CreateOrg(context.Background(), orgCmd)
+		err := ss.CreateOrg(context.Background(), orgCmd)
 		require.Nil(t, err)
 
 		cmd := models.CreateUserCommand{