diff --git a/models/avatars/avatar.go b/models/avatars/avatar.go
index 6cf05dd284b1d..265ee6428e361 100644
--- a/models/avatars/avatar.go
+++ b/models/avatars/avatar.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func generateEmailAvatarLink(ctx context.Context, email string, size int, final
 		return DefaultAvatarLink()
 	}
 
-	enableFederatedAvatar := system_model.GetSettingBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar)
+	enableFederatedAvatar := system_model.GetSettingWithCacheBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar)
 
 	var err error
 	if enableFederatedAvatar && system_model.LibravatarService != nil {
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func generateEmailAvatarLink(ctx context.Context, email string, size int, final
 		return urlStr
 	}
 
-	disableGravatar := system_model.GetSettingBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
+	disableGravatar := system_model.GetSettingWithCacheBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
 	if !disableGravatar {
 		// copy GravatarSourceURL, because we will modify its Path.
 		avatarURLCopy := *system_model.GravatarSourceURL
diff --git a/models/avatars/avatar_test.go b/models/avatars/avatar_test.go
index a3cb36d0e1320..59daaeb6695a6 100644
--- a/models/avatars/avatar_test.go
+++ b/models/avatars/avatar_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func enableGravatar(t *testing.T) {
 	err := system_model.SetSettingNoVersion(db.DefaultContext, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar, "false")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	setting.GravatarSource = gravatarSource
-	err = system_model.Init()
+	err = system_model.Init(db.DefaultContext)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/models/repo.go b/models/repo.go
index 38dc3f1ab184e..5a1e2e028e81c 100644
--- a/models/repo.go
+++ b/models/repo.go
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ import (
 var ItemsPerPage = 40
 
 // Init initialize model
-func Init() error {
+func Init(ctx context.Context) error {
 	unit.LoadUnitConfig()
-	return system_model.Init()
+	return system_model.Init(ctx)
 }
 
 // DeleteRepository deletes a repository for a user or organization.
diff --git a/models/system/setting.go b/models/system/setting.go
index 098d9a1832b72..6af759dc8a1c0 100644
--- a/models/system/setting.go
+++ b/models/system/setting.go
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ func IsErrDataExpired(err error) bool {
 	return ok
 }
 
-// GetSettingNoCache returns specific setting without using the cache
-func GetSettingNoCache(ctx context.Context, key string) (*Setting, error) {
+// GetSetting returns specific setting without using the cache
+func GetSetting(ctx context.Context, key string) (*Setting, error) {
 	v, err := GetSettings(ctx, []string{key})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -93,11 +93,11 @@ func GetSettingNoCache(ctx context.Context, key string) (*Setting, error) {
 
 const contextCacheKey = "system_setting"
 
-// GetSetting returns the setting value via the key
-func GetSetting(ctx context.Context, key string) (string, error) {
+// GetSettingWithCache returns the setting value via the key
+func GetSettingWithCache(ctx context.Context, key string) (string, error) {
 	return cache.GetWithContextCache(ctx, contextCacheKey, key, func() (string, error) {
 		return cache.GetString(genSettingCacheKey(key), func() (string, error) {
-			res, err := GetSettingNoCache(ctx, key)
+			res, err := GetSetting(ctx, key)
 			if err != nil {
 				return "", err
 			}
@@ -110,6 +110,15 @@ func GetSetting(ctx context.Context, key string) (string, error) {
 // none existing keys and errors are ignored and result in false
 func GetSettingBool(ctx context.Context, key string) bool {
 	s, _ := GetSetting(ctx, key)
+	if s == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	v, _ := strconv.ParseBool(s.SettingValue)
+	return v
+}
+
+func GetSettingWithCacheBool(ctx context.Context, key string) bool {
+	s, _ := GetSettingWithCache(ctx, key)
 	v, _ := strconv.ParseBool(s)
 	return v
 }
@@ -120,7 +129,7 @@ func GetSettings(ctx context.Context, keys []string) (map[string]*Setting, error
 		keys[i] = strings.ToLower(keys[i])
 	}
 	settings := make([]*Setting, 0, len(keys))
-	if err := db.GetEngine(db.DefaultContext).
+	if err := db.GetEngine(ctx).
 		Where(builder.In("setting_key", keys)).
 		Find(&settings); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -151,9 +160,9 @@ func (settings AllSettings) GetVersion(key string) int {
 }
 
 // GetAllSettings returns all settings from user
-func GetAllSettings() (AllSettings, error) {
+func GetAllSettings(ctx context.Context) (AllSettings, error) {
 	settings := make([]*Setting, 0, 5)
-	if err := db.GetEngine(db.DefaultContext).
+	if err := db.GetEngine(ctx).
 		Find(&settings); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -168,12 +177,12 @@ func GetAllSettings() (AllSettings, error) {
 func DeleteSetting(ctx context.Context, setting *Setting) error {
 	cache.RemoveContextData(ctx, contextCacheKey, setting.SettingKey)
 	cache.Remove(genSettingCacheKey(setting.SettingKey))
-	_, err := db.GetEngine(db.DefaultContext).Delete(setting)
+	_, err := db.GetEngine(ctx).Delete(setting)
 	return err
 }
 
 func SetSettingNoVersion(ctx context.Context, key, value string) error {
-	s, err := GetSettingNoCache(ctx, key)
+	s, err := GetSetting(ctx, key)
 	if IsErrSettingIsNotExist(err) {
 		return SetSetting(ctx, &Setting{
 			SettingKey:   key,
@@ -189,7 +198,7 @@ func SetSettingNoVersion(ctx context.Context, key, value string) error {
 
 // SetSetting updates a users' setting for a specific key
 func SetSetting(ctx context.Context, setting *Setting) error {
-	if err := upsertSettingValue(strings.ToLower(setting.SettingKey), setting.SettingValue, setting.Version); err != nil {
+	if err := upsertSettingValue(ctx, strings.ToLower(setting.SettingKey), setting.SettingValue, setting.Version); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -205,8 +214,8 @@ func SetSetting(ctx context.Context, setting *Setting) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func upsertSettingValue(key, value string, version int) error {
-	return db.WithTx(db.DefaultContext, func(ctx context.Context) error {
+func upsertSettingValue(parentCtx context.Context, key, value string, version int) error {
+	return db.WithTx(parentCtx, func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		e := db.GetEngine(ctx)
 
 		// here we use a general method to do a safe upsert for different databases (and most transaction levels)
@@ -249,9 +258,9 @@ var (
 	LibravatarService *libravatar.Libravatar
 )
 
-func Init() error {
+func Init(ctx context.Context) error {
 	var disableGravatar bool
-	disableGravatarSetting, err := GetSettingNoCache(db.DefaultContext, KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
+	disableGravatarSetting, err := GetSetting(ctx, KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
 	if IsErrSettingIsNotExist(err) {
 		disableGravatar = setting_module.GetDefaultDisableGravatar()
 		disableGravatarSetting = &Setting{SettingValue: strconv.FormatBool(disableGravatar)}
@@ -262,7 +271,7 @@ func Init() error {
 	}
 
 	var enableFederatedAvatar bool
-	enableFederatedAvatarSetting, err := GetSettingNoCache(db.DefaultContext, KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar)
+	enableFederatedAvatarSetting, err := GetSetting(ctx, KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar)
 	if IsErrSettingIsNotExist(err) {
 		enableFederatedAvatar = setting_module.GetDefaultEnableFederatedAvatar(disableGravatar)
 		enableFederatedAvatarSetting = &Setting{SettingValue: strconv.FormatBool(enableFederatedAvatar)}
@@ -275,13 +284,13 @@ func Init() error {
 	if setting_module.OfflineMode {
 		disableGravatar = true
 		enableFederatedAvatar = false
-		if !GetSettingBool(db.DefaultContext, KeyPictureDisableGravatar) {
-			if err := SetSettingNoVersion(db.DefaultContext, KeyPictureDisableGravatar, "true"); err != nil {
+		if !GetSettingBool(ctx, KeyPictureDisableGravatar) {
+			if err := SetSettingNoVersion(ctx, KeyPictureDisableGravatar, "true"); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("Failed to set setting %q: %w", KeyPictureDisableGravatar, err)
 			}
 		}
-		if GetSettingBool(db.DefaultContext, KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar) {
-			if err := SetSettingNoVersion(db.DefaultContext, KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar, "false"); err != nil {
+		if GetSettingBool(ctx, KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar) {
+			if err := SetSettingNoVersion(ctx, KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar, "false"); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("Failed to set setting %q: %w", KeyPictureEnableFederatedAvatar, err)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/models/system/setting_test.go b/models/system/setting_test.go
index fbd04088e6d58..e6997ad783264 100644
--- a/models/system/setting_test.go
+++ b/models/system/setting_test.go
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ func TestSettings(t *testing.T) {
 
 	value, err := system.GetSetting(db.DefaultContext, keyName)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.EqualValues(t, updatedSetting.SettingValue, value)
+	assert.EqualValues(t, updatedSetting.SettingValue, value.SettingValue)
 
 	// get all settings
-	settings, err = system.GetAllSettings()
+	settings, err = system.GetAllSettings(db.DefaultContext)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, settings, 3)
 	assert.EqualValues(t, updatedSetting.SettingValue, settings[strings.ToLower(updatedSetting.SettingKey)].SettingValue)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func TestSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	// delete setting
 	err = system.DeleteSetting(db.DefaultContext, &system.Setting{SettingKey: strings.ToLower(keyName)})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	settings, err = system.GetAllSettings()
+	settings, err = system.GetAllSettings(db.DefaultContext)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, settings, 2)
 }
diff --git a/models/unittest/testdb.go b/models/unittest/testdb.go
index 7e327f2bd22ea..2bc41084ba872 100644
--- a/models/unittest/testdb.go
+++ b/models/unittest/testdb.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func MainTest(m *testing.M, testOpts *TestOptions) {
 	if err = storage.Init(); err != nil {
 		fatalTestError("storage.Init: %v\n", err)
 	}
-	if err = system_model.Init(); err != nil {
+	if err = system_model.Init(db.DefaultContext); err != nil {
 		fatalTestError("models.Init: %v\n", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/models/user/avatar.go b/models/user/avatar.go
index 9af2a9acc2201..3d1e2ed20b910 100644
--- a/models/user/avatar.go
+++ b/models/user/avatar.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (u *User) AvatarLinkWithSize(ctx context.Context, size int) string {
 	useLocalAvatar := false
 	autoGenerateAvatar := false
 
-	disableGravatar := system_model.GetSettingBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
+	disableGravatar := system_model.GetSettingWithCacheBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
 
 	switch {
 	case u.UseCustomAvatar:
diff --git a/modules/repository/commits_test.go b/modules/repository/commits_test.go
index 2bd8de38aa1ea..a407083f3a891 100644
--- a/modules/repository/commits_test.go
+++ b/modules/repository/commits_test.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func enableGravatar(t *testing.T) {
 	err := system_model.SetSettingNoVersion(db.DefaultContext, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar, "false")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	setting.GravatarSource = "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar"
-	err = system_model.Init()
+	err = system_model.Init(db.DefaultContext)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/templates/helper.go b/modules/templates/helper.go
index b7bd07670cf74..17ac68dc6bcf1 100644
--- a/modules/templates/helper.go
+++ b/modules/templates/helper.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func NewFuncMap() []template.FuncMap {
 			return setting.AssetVersion
 		},
 		"DisableGravatar": func(ctx context.Context) bool {
-			return system_model.GetSettingBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
+			return system_model.GetSettingWithCacheBool(ctx, system_model.KeyPictureDisableGravatar)
 		},
 		"DefaultShowFullName": func() bool {
 			return setting.UI.DefaultShowFullName
diff --git a/routers/init.go b/routers/init.go
index 6a51de669adee..d3f822dc8345a 100644
--- a/routers/init.go
+++ b/routers/init.go
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func GlobalInitInstalled(ctx context.Context) {
 	mustInit(system.Init)
 	mustInit(oauth2.Init)
 
-	mustInit(models.Init)
+	mustInitCtx(ctx, models.Init)
 	mustInit(repo_service.Init)
 
 	// Booting long running goroutines.
diff --git a/routers/web/admin/config.go b/routers/web/admin/config.go
index 2566cbe42b2d6..075fb423dc5f9 100644
--- a/routers/web/admin/config.go
+++ b/routers/web/admin/config.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func Config(ctx *context.Context) {
 	ctx.Data["PageIsAdmin"] = true
 	ctx.Data["PageIsAdminConfig"] = true
 
-	systemSettings, err := system_model.GetAllSettings()
+	systemSettings, err := system_model.GetAllSettings(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		ctx.ServerError("system_model.GetAllSettings", err)
 		return