diff --git a/src/cli/clidbman.py b/src/cli/clidbman.py
index 09949f6a8..d8eb3ed2e 100644
--- a/src/cli/clidbman.py
+++ b/src/cli/clidbman.py
@@ -197,26 +197,26 @@ class CLIDbManager(object):
         # make the default directory if it does not exist
         dbdir = os.path.expanduser(config.get('behavior.database-path'))
         dbdir = dbdir.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
-        make_dbdir(dbdir)
+        db_ok = make_dbdir(dbdir)
 
         self.current_names = []
-        
-        for dpath in os.listdir(dbdir):
-            dirpath = os.path.join(dbdir, dpath)
-            path_name = os.path.join(dirpath, NAME_FILE)
-            if os.path.isfile(path_name):
-                name = file(path_name).readline().strip()
+        if db_ok:
+            for dpath in os.listdir(dbdir):
+                dirpath = os.path.join(dbdir, dpath)
+                path_name = os.path.join(dirpath, NAME_FILE)
+                if os.path.isfile(path_name):
+                    name = file(path_name).readline().strip()
 
-                (tval, last) = time_val(dirpath)
-                (enable, stock_id) = self.icon_values(dirpath, self.active, 
-                                                 self.dbstate.db.is_open())
+                    (tval, last) = time_val(dirpath)
+                    (enable, stock_id) = self.icon_values(dirpath, self.active, 
+                                                     self.dbstate.db.is_open())
 
-                if (stock_id == 'gramps-lock'):
-                    last = find_locker_name(dirpath)
+                    if (stock_id == 'gramps-lock'):
+                        last = find_locker_name(dirpath)
 
-                self.current_names.append(
-                    (name, os.path.join(dbdir, dpath), path_name,
-                     last, tval, enable, stock_id))
+                    self.current_names.append(
+                        (name, os.path.join(dbdir, dpath), path_name,
+                         last, tval, enable, stock_id))
 
         self.current_names.sort()
 
@@ -403,7 +403,11 @@ def make_dbdir(dbdir):
             os.makedirs(dbdir)
     except (IOError, OSError), msg:
         msg = unicode(str(msg), sys.getfilesystemencoding())
-        LOG.error(_("Could not make database directory: ") + msg)
+        LOG.error(_("\nERROR: Wrong database path in Edit Menu->Preferences.\n"
+                    "Open preferences and set correct database path.\n\n"
+                    "Details: Could not make database directory:\n    %s\n\n") % msg)
+        return False
+    return True
 
 def find_next_db_name(name_list):
     """
diff --git a/src/gui/configure.py b/src/gui/configure.py
index 93a9c6a0f..59bf92c07 100644
--- a/src/gui/configure.py
+++ b/src/gui/configure.py
@@ -1220,9 +1220,16 @@ class GrampsPreferences(ConfigureDialog):
         table.set_col_spacings(6)
         table.set_row_spacings(6)
 
-        self.add_entry(table, 
-                _('Family Tree Database path'), 
-                0, 'behavior.database-path')
+
+        self.dbpath_entry = Gtk.Entry()
+        self.add_path_box(table, 
+                _('Family Tree Database path'),
+                0, self.dbpath_entry, config.get('behavior.database-path'),
+                self.set_dbpath, self.select_dbpath)
+
+        #self.add_entry(table, 
+        #        _('Family Tree Database path'), 
+        #        0, 'behavior.database-path')
         self.add_checkbox(table, 
                 _('Automatically load last family tree'), 
                 1, 'behavior.autoload')
@@ -1255,6 +1262,30 @@ class GrampsPreferences(ConfigureDialog):
                 self.path_entry.set_text(val)
         f.destroy()
 
+    def set_dbpath(self, *obj):
+        path = self.dbpath_entry.get_text().strip()
+        config.set('behavior.database-path', path)
+
+    def select_dbpath(self, *obj):
+        f = Gtk.FileChooserDialog(
+            _("Select database directory"),
+            action=Gtk.FileChooserAction.SELECT_FOLDER,
+            buttons=(Gtk.STOCK_CANCEL,
+                     Gtk.ResponseType.CANCEL,
+                     Gtk.STOCK_APPLY,
+                     Gtk.ResponseType.OK))
+        dbpath = config.get('behavior.database-path')
+        if not dbpath:
+            dbpath = os.path.join(os.environ['HOME'], '.gramps','grampsdb')
+        f.set_current_folder(os.path.dirname(dbpath))
+
+        status = f.run()
+        if status == Gtk.ResponseType.OK:
+            val =  get_unicode_path_from_file_chooser(f.get_filename())
+            if val:
+                self.dbpath_entry.set_text(val)
+        f.destroy()
+
     def update_idformat_entry(self, obj, constant):
         config.set(constant, unicode(obj.get_text()))
         self.dbstate.db.set_prefixes(