diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 92f58b6194..ecbe7988fe 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+2581.	[contrib]	dlz/mysql set MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT option on connection.
+			Requires MySQL 5.0.19 or later. [RT #19084]
+
 2580.	[bug]		UpdateRej statistics counter could be incremented twice
 			for one rejection. [RT #19476]
 
diff --git a/contrib/dlz/drivers/dlz_mysql_driver.c b/contrib/dlz/drivers/dlz_mysql_driver.c
index ea32d39ec6..5d2739b1dd 100644
--- a/contrib/dlz/drivers/dlz_mysql_driver.c
+++ b/contrib/dlz/drivers/dlz_mysql_driver.c
@@ -792,6 +792,9 @@ mysql_create(const char *dlzname, unsigned int argc, char *argv[],
 	char *endp;
 	int j;
 	unsigned int flags = 0;
+#ifdef MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT
+        my_bool auto_reconnect = 1;
+#endif
 
 	UNUSED(driverarg);
 	UNUSED(dlzname);
@@ -923,6 +926,17 @@ mysql_create(const char *dlzname, unsigned int argc, char *argv[],
 	pass = getParameterValue(argv[1], "pass=");
 	socket = getParameterValue(argv[1], "socket=");
 
+#ifdef MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT
+	/* enable automatic reconnection. */
+        if (mysql_options((MYSQL *) dbi->dbconn, MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT,
+			  &auto_reconnect) != 0) {
+		isc_log_write(dns_lctx, DNS_LOGCATEGORY_DATABASE,
+			      DNS_LOGMODULE_DLZ, ISC_LOG_WARNING,
+			      "mysql driver failed to set "
+			      "MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT option, continuing");
+	}
+#endif
+
 	for (j=0; dbc == NULL && j < 4; j++)
 		dbc = mysql_real_connect((MYSQL *) dbi->dbconn, host,
 					 user, pass, dbname, port, socket,