diff --git a/electrum/json_db.py b/electrum/json_db.py
index 5f11ad16d..42321d4e9 100644
--- a/electrum/json_db.py
+++ b/electrum/json_db.py
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ class TxFeesValue(NamedTuple):
 
 class JsonDB(Logger):
 
-    def __init__(self, raw, *, manual_upgrades):
+    def __init__(self, raw, *, manual_upgrades: bool):
         Logger.__init__(self)
         self.lock = threading.RLock()
         self.data = {}
         self._modified = False
-        self.manual_upgrades = manual_upgrades
+        self._manual_upgrades = manual_upgrades
         self._called_after_upgrade_tasks = False
         if raw:  # loading existing db
             self.load_data(raw)
@@ -142,12 +142,12 @@ class JsonDB(Logger):
         if not isinstance(self.data, dict):
             raise WalletFileException("Malformed wallet file (not dict)")
 
-        if not self.manual_upgrades and self.requires_split():
+        if not self._manual_upgrades and self.requires_split():
             raise WalletFileException("This wallet has multiple accounts and must be split")
 
         if not self.requires_upgrade():
             self._after_upgrade_tasks()
-        elif not self.manual_upgrades:
+        elif not self._manual_upgrades:
             self.upgrade()
 
     def requires_split(self):
diff --git a/electrum/storage.py b/electrum/storage.py
index 2273abc54..044154ebb 100644
--- a/electrum/storage.py
+++ b/electrum/storage.py
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ class StorageReadWriteError(Exception): pass
 
 class WalletStorage(Logger):
 
-    def __init__(self, path, *, manual_upgrades=False):
+    def __init__(self, path, *, manual_upgrades: bool = False):
         Logger.__init__(self)
         self.lock = threading.RLock()
         self.path = standardize_path(path)
         self._file_exists = bool(self.path and os.path.exists(self.path))
+        self._manual_upgrades = manual_upgrades
 
         DB_Class = JsonDB
         self.logger.info(f"wallet path {self.path}")
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ class WalletStorage(Logger):
             s = None
         self.pubkey = ec_key.get_public_key_hex()
         s = s.decode('utf8')
-        self.db = JsonDB(s, manual_upgrades=True)
+        self.db = JsonDB(s, manual_upgrades=self._manual_upgrades)
         self.load_plugins()
 
     def encrypt_before_writing(self, plaintext: str) -> str: