diff --git a/classes/dataport_external.php b/classes/dataport_external.php
index d13b373..6475be6 100644
--- a/classes/dataport_external.php
+++ b/classes/dataport_external.php
@@ -214,6 +214,9 @@ private function init_external_db($host, $dbname, $dbtype, $username, $password,
         require_once($CFG->libdir.'/adodb/adodb.inc.php');
 
         // Connect to the external database (forcing new connection).
+        if ($dbtype === 'mariadb') {
+            $dbtype = 'mysqli' ;
+        }
         $extdb = ADONewConnection($dbtype);
         if ($debug) {
             $extdb->debug = true;
diff --git a/tests/dbuserrel_test.php b/tests/dbuserrel_test.php
index 5c4383f..e4d9409 100644
--- a/tests/dbuserrel_test.php
+++ b/tests/dbuserrel_test.php
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public function test_readrelationships() {
         $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('remotesubjectuserfield', 'remote_subject_id');
         $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('remoteobjectuserfield', 'remote_object_id');
         $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('remoterolefield', 'remote_role');
-        $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('debugdb', true);
+        $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('debugdb', false);
 
         $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('localsubjectuserfield', 'user_idnumber');
         $this->dbuserrelplugin->set_config('localobjectuserfield', 'user_idnumber');