diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9348d55..f4fa54b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ drupal_settings:
                 database: mydatabase
                 username: user
                 password: secret
+                isolevel: 'SET SESSION TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED'
           config_directories: # Optional, Drupal 8
             sync: path/to/config
           trusted_hosts: # Optional, Drupal 8
diff --git a/templates/settings.php.j2 b/templates/settings.php.j2
index bd7ad99..331aeda 100644
--- a/templates/settings.php.j2
+++ b/templates/settings.php.j2
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ $databases['{{ key }}']['{{ target }}'] = array(
   'database' => '{{ values.database }}',
   'username' => '{{ values.username }}',
   'password' => '{{ values.password }}',
+  'init_commands' => [
+    'isolation_level' => '{{ values.isolevel }}',
+  ],
 );
 
 {% endfor %}