diff --git a/faafo/api/service.py b/faafo/api/service.py
index 9fe2b11..8a2479c 100644
--- a/faafo/api/service.py
+++ b/faafo/api/service.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from kombu.pools import producers
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log
 from PIL import Image
+from sqlalchemy.dialects import mysql
 
 from faafo import queues
 from faafo import version
@@ -81,7 +82,13 @@ class Fractal(db.Model):
     xb = db.Column(db.Float, nullable=False)
     ya = db.Column(db.Float, nullable=False)
     yb = db.Column(db.Float, nullable=False)
-    image = db.Column(db.LargeBinary, nullable=True)
+
+    if CONF.database_url.startswith('mysql'):
+        LOG.debug('Using MySQL database backend')
+        image = db.Column(mysql.MEDIUMBLOB, nullable=True)
+    else:
+        image = db.Column(db.LargeBinary, nullable=True)
+
     generated_by = db.Column(db.String(256), nullable=True)
 
     def __repr__(self):