diff --git a/base/orm.py b/base/orm.py
index 05add608..631ac030 100644
--- a/base/orm.py
+++ b/base/orm.py
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ class Base(declarative_base()):
     __tablename__: str
     __new__: Callable
     __init__: Callable
-
+    # qualify the base with __allow_unmapped__.  Can also be
+    # applied to classes directly if preferred
+    __allow_unmapped__ = True
     __abstract__: bool = True
     __table_args__ = {"extend_existing": True}
     id: int = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
diff --git a/orm/community.py b/orm/community.py
index 227c6cb9..b55b857f 100644
--- a/orm/community.py
+++ b/orm/community.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class CommunityFollower(Base):
 
 class Community(Base):
     __tablename__ = "community"
-    __allow_unmapped__ = True
 
     name = Column(String, nullable=False, comment="Name")
     slug = Column(String, nullable=False, unique=True, comment="Slug")
diff --git a/orm/rbac.py b/orm/rbac.py
index 015b9ee2..29ade72e 100644
--- a/orm/rbac.py
+++ b/orm/rbac.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ class ClassType(TypeDecorator):
 
 class Role(Base):
     __tablename__ = "role"
-    __allow_unmapped__ = True
 
     name = Column(String, nullable=False, comment="Role Name")
     desc = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Role Description")
diff --git a/orm/shout.py b/orm/shout.py
index 9c8a2416..04b0102b 100644
--- a/orm/shout.py
+++ b/orm/shout.py
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ class ShoutAuthor(Base):
 
 class Shout(Base):
     __tablename__ = "shout"
-    __allow_unmapped__ = True
 
     slug = Column(String, unique=True)
     community = Column(ForeignKey("community.id"), default=1)
diff --git a/orm/topic.py b/orm/topic.py
index c08465ec..a37dc69a 100644
--- a/orm/topic.py
+++ b/orm/topic.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class TopicFollower(Base):
 
 class Topic(Base):
     __tablename__ = "topic"
-    __allow_unmapped__ = True
 
     slug = Column(String, unique=True)
     title = Column(String, nullable=False, comment="Title")