diff --git a/src/ORM/Connect/Database.php b/src/ORM/Connect/Database.php
index ad92bf174..a129ff085 100644
--- a/src/ORM/Connect/Database.php
+++ b/src/ORM/Connect/Database.php
@@ -656,6 +656,20 @@ abstract class Database
         return false;
     }
 
+
+    /**
+     * Determines if the used database supports given transactionMode as an argument to startTransaction()
+     * If transactions are completely unsupported, returns false.
+     *
+     * @param string $mode
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function supportsTransactionMode(string $mode): bool
+    {
+        // Default implementation: assume all modes are a supported.
+        return $this->supportsTransactions();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Invoke $callback within a transaction
      *
diff --git a/tests/php/ORM/TransactionTest.php b/tests/php/ORM/TransactionTest.php
index c6e892f28..075c788d4 100644
--- a/tests/php/ORM/TransactionTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/ORM/TransactionTest.php
@@ -157,7 +157,12 @@ class TransactionTest extends SapphireTest
     public function testReadOnlyTransaction()
     {
         if (!DB::get_conn()->supportsTransactions()) {
-            $this->markTestSkipped('Current database is doesn\'t support transactions');
+            $this->markTestSkipped('Current database doesn\'t support transactions');
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (!DB::get_conn()->supportsTransactionMode('READ ONLY')) {
+            $this->markTestSkipped('Current database doesn\'t support READ ONLY transactions');
             return;
         }