diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 803df97..c38f8bd 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -180,9 +180,16 @@ Steppy(
 
 		logger.log('Server config:', JSON.stringify(app.config, null, 4));
 
-		db.init(app.config.paths.db, {
-			db: require(app.config.storage.backend)
-		}, this.slot());
+		var dbBackend = require(app.config.storage.backend);
+
+		// monkey patch memdown to allow save empty strings which is correct
+		// at general but occasionally not allowed at _checkKey
+		// https://github.com/Level/abstract-leveldown/issues/74
+		if (app.config.storage.backend === 'memdown') {
+			dbBackend.prototype._checkKey = _.noop;
+		}
+
+		db.init(app.config.paths.db, {db: dbBackend}, this.slot());
 	},
 	function() {
 		// load all projects for the first time
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 333dcf4..575d07f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     "gulp-react-jade-amd": "git://github.com/vladimir-polyakov/gulp-react-jade-amd",
     "jade": "1.11.0",
     "main-bower-files": "2.7.0",
-    "memdown": "1.0.0",
+    "memdown": "1.1.0",
     "mocha": "1.18.2",
     "nci-yaml-reader": "0.1.0",
     "nodemon": "1.3.7",