diff --git a/lib/zxystream.js b/lib/zxystream.js
index 4d1d44f..5816503 100644
--- a/lib/zxystream.js
+++ b/lib/zxystream.js
@@ -6,22 +6,13 @@ util.inherits(ZXYStream, stream.Readable);
 
 // Readable stream of line-delimited z/x/y coordinates
 // contained within the MBTiles `tiles` table/view.
-//
-// The `batch` option exists to allow tests to check that
-// multiple calls to `_read` are handled properly. IRL the
-// default offset of 1000 should be reasonably efficient
-// and not worth messing with.
 function ZXYStream(source, options) {
     if (!source) throw new TypeError('MBTiles source required');
 
     options = options || {};
 
-    if (options.batch !== undefined && typeof options.batch !== 'number')
-        throw new TypeError('options.batch must be a positive integer');
-
     this.source = source;
     this.batch = options.batch || 1000;
-    this.offset = 0;
 
     stream.Readable.call(this);
 }
@@ -38,15 +29,38 @@ ZXYStream.prototype._read = function() {
         });
     }
 
-    this.source._db.all('SELECT zoom_level AS z, tile_column AS x, tile_row AS y FROM ' + this.table + ' LIMIT ' + this.batch + ' OFFSET ' + this.offset, function(err, rows) {
-        if (err && err.code === 'SQLITE_ERROR' && /no such table/.test(err.message)) return stream.push(null);
-        if (err) return stream.emit('error', err);
-        if (!rows.length) return stream.push(null);
-        stream.offset += stream.batch;
-        var chunk = '';
-        for (var i = 0; i < rows.length; i++) chunk += toLine(rows[i]);
-        stream.push(chunk);
-    });
+    // Prepare sql statement
+    if (!stream.statement) {
+        stream.statement = this.source._db.prepare('SELECT zoom_level AS z, tile_column AS x, tile_row AS y FROM ' + this.table, function(err) {
+            if (err && err.code === 'SQLITE_ERROR' && /no such table/.test(err.message)) return stream.push(null);
+            return stream._read();
+        });
+        return;
+    }
+
+    var lines = '';
+    var error;
+    var remaining = stream.batch;
+    for (var i = 0; i < stream.batch; i++) stream.statement.get(afterGet);
+
+    function afterGet(err, row) {
+        if (err && err.code === 'SQLITE_ERROR' && /no such table/.test(err.message)) {
+            // no-op
+        } else if (err) {
+            error = err;
+        } else if (!row) {
+            // no-op
+        } else {
+            lines += toLine(row);
+        }
+        if (!--remaining) {
+            if (error) {
+                stream.emit('error', error);
+            } else {
+                stream.push(lines || null);
+            }
+        }
+    }
 };
 
 function toLine(row) {
diff --git a/test/zxystream.js b/test/zxystream.js
index 92008fc..58e1e3d 100644
--- a/test/zxystream.js
+++ b/test/zxystream.js
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ tape('zxystream default batch', function(assert) {
 
     assert.deepEqual(stream.source, source, 'sets stream.source');
     assert.deepEqual(stream.batch, 1000, 'sets stream.batch = 1000');
-    assert.deepEqual(stream.offset, 0, 'sets stream.offset = 0');
 
     stream.on('data', function(lines) {
         assert.equal(stream.table, 'map');
@@ -50,7 +49,6 @@ tape('zxystream batch = 10', function(assert) {
 
     assert.deepEqual(stream.source, source, 'sets stream.source');
     assert.deepEqual(stream.batch, 10, 'sets stream.batch = 10');
-    assert.deepEqual(stream.offset, 0, 'sets stream.offset = 0');
 
     stream.on('data', function(lines) {
         assert.equal(stream.table, 'map');
@@ -90,7 +88,6 @@ tape('zxystream unindexed zxystream', function(assert) {
 
     assert.deepEqual(stream.source, source, 'sets stream.source');
     assert.deepEqual(stream.batch, 1000, 'sets stream.batch = 1000');
-    assert.deepEqual(stream.offset, 0, 'sets stream.offset = 0');
 
     stream.on('data', function(lines) {
         assert.equal(stream.table, 'tiles');