An aspect includes a method for maintaining active queries. The method includes executing a query based on data items in at least two relations in a database. The executing includes outputting a query result and control information associated with the query. The query result and the control information are recorded. A notification that at least one of the data items has been updated subsequent to the executing is received. The query result is modified, responsive to the control information, to reflect the data items that were updated subsequent to the executing.