diff --git a/db/libdb.pm.in b/db/libdb.pm.in
index c940a2b58b56f81f52f20a2be52dd3e2919dc424..5b9f2f758b66d3634c4b447570a519be1bd4ad8b 100644
--- a/db/libdb.pm.in
+++ b/db/libdb.pm.in
@@ -4459,7 +4459,7 @@ sub TBFieldData($$;$)
     }
     # Resort to a default entry.
     if (!defined($fielddata)) {
-	$DBFieldErrstr = "No slot data";
+	$DBFieldErrstr = "Error-checking pattern missing from the database";
 	
 	if (defined($flag)) {
 	    if ($flag & TBDB_CHECKDBSLOT_WARN()) {