diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5d2b00539..65debbe13 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@ Legend:
 ? = Other stuff
 ```
 
+(29/10/26): Version 2.2.10-srcdslab
+-----------------------
+```
+01. + sbpp_main no longer re-sets the database charset (a blocking
+        round trip on the main thread) on every admin cache rebuild;
+        it is set once per connection
+
 (29/10/26): Version 2.2.9-srcdslab
 -----------------------
 ```
diff --git a/game/addons/sourcemod/scripting/sbpp_main.sp b/game/addons/sourcemod/scripting/sbpp_main.sp
index d0a8dcd12..b18ca58ef 100644
--- a/game/addons/sourcemod/scripting/sbpp_main.sp
+++ b/game/addons/sourcemod/scripting/sbpp_main.sp
@@ -1177,18 +1177,25 @@ public void GotDatabase(Database db, const char[] error, any data)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	DB = db;
-
 	char query[1024];
 
-	// Set character set to UTF8MB4 in the database
-	// Use SetCharset to ensure charset is set synchronously before any operations
-	if (!DB.SetCharset("utf8mb4"))
+	// OnRebuildAdminCache() calls this again with the current handle for every cache part.
+	// Only a new connection needs its charset set: SetCharset() is a blocking round trip on
+	// the main thread that also waits for any threaded query in flight, and the charset it
+	// sets stays on the handle (also across the driver's automatic reconnects).
+	if (db != DB)
 	{
-		LogToFile(logFile, "Failed to set database charset to utf8mb4, trying async method");
-		// Fallback to async method
-		Format(query, sizeof(query), "SET NAMES utf8mb4");
-		DB.Query(ErrorCheckCallback, query);
+		DB = db;
+
+		// Set character set to UTF8MB4 in the database
+		// Use SetCharset to ensure charset is set synchronously before any operations
+		if (!DB.SetCharset("utf8mb4"))
+		{
+			LogToFile(logFile, "Failed to set database charset to utf8mb4, trying async method");
+			// Fallback to async method
+			Format(query, sizeof(query), "SET NAMES utf8mb4");
+			DB.Query(ErrorCheckCallback, query);
+		}
 	}
 
 	// The database can be ready before the first ReadConfig() (OnMapStart), and every