diff --git a/src/gen/db/exceptions.py b/src/gen/db/exceptions.py
index 08bc92e87..f037cbf6c 100644
--- a/src/gen/db/exceptions.py
+++ b/src/gen/db/exceptions.py
@@ -67,6 +67,29 @@ class DbVersionError(Exception):
                  "Gramps.\nPlease upgrade to the corresponding version or use "
                  "XML for porting data between different database versions.")
     
+class DbEnvironmentError(Exception):
+    """
+    Error used to report that the database 'environment' could not be opened.
+    Most likely, the database was created by a different version of the underlying database engine.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, msg):
+        Exception.__init__(self)
+        self.msg = msg
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return (_("Gramps has detected an problem in opening the 'environment' "
+                  "of the underlying Berkeley database. The most likely cause "
+                  "is that the database was created with an old version "
+                  "of the Berkeley database, and you are now using a new version. "
+                  "It is quite likely that your database has not been "
+                  "changed by Gramps.\nIf possible, you could revert to your "
+                  "old version of Gramps and its support software; export "
+                  "your database to XML; close the database; then upgrade again "
+                  "to this version "
+                  "and import the XML file. Alternatively, it may be possible "
+                  "to upgrade your database.")
+                  + '\n\n' + str(self.msg))
+    
 class DbUpgradeRequiredError(Exception):
     """
     Error used to report that a database needs to be upgraded before it can be 
diff --git a/src/gen/db/write.py b/src/gen/db/write.py
index b566d6bf3..381a038c2 100644
--- a/src/gen/db/write.py
+++ b/src/gen/db/write.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ from sys import maxint
 from gen.lib import (GenderStats, Person, Family, Event, Place, Source, 
                      MediaObject, Repository, Note, Tag)
 from gen.db import (DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, BSDDBTxn, 
-                    DbTxn, BsddbBaseCursor, DbVersionError, 
+                    DbTxn, BsddbBaseCursor, DbVersionError, DbEnvironmentError, 
                     DbUpgradeRequiredError, find_surname, find_surname_name,
                     DbUndoBSDDB as DbUndo)
 from gen.db.dbconst import *
@@ -402,13 +402,17 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
                     db.DB_INIT_MPOOL | db.DB_INIT_LOCK |\
                     db.DB_INIT_LOG | db.DB_INIT_TXN | db.DB_THREAD
 
-        # As opposed to before, we always try recovery on databases
-        env_flags |= db.DB_RECOVER
-
         # Environment name is now based on the filename
         env_name = name
 
-        self.env.open(env_name, env_flags)
+        try:
+            self.env.open(env_name, env_flags)
+        except Exception, msg:
+            try:
+                self.__close_early()
+            except:
+                pass
+            raise DbEnvironmentError(msg)
         self.env.txn_checkpoint()
 
         if callback:
@@ -1724,7 +1728,7 @@ class DbBsddb(DbBsddbRead, DbWriteBase, UpdateCallback):
         if version < 15:
             upgrade.gramps_upgrade_15(self)
 
-        print "Upgrade time:", int(time.time()-t), "seconds"
+        _LOG.debug("Upgrade time: %d seconds" % int(time.time()-t))
 
     def set_auto_remove(self):
         """
diff --git a/src/gui/dbloader.py b/src/gui/dbloader.py
index 24ebbdf68..0ee70300f 100644
--- a/src/gui/dbloader.py
+++ b/src/gui/dbloader.py
@@ -312,6 +312,10 @@ class DbLoader(CLIDbLoader):
         except gen.db.exceptions.DbVersionError, msg:
             self.dbstate.no_database()
             self._errordialog( _("Cannot open database"), str(msg))
+        except gen.db.exceptions.DbEnvironmentError, msg:
+            _LOG.error("dbloader: read_file: DbEnvironmentError detected")
+            self.dbstate.no_database()
+            self._errordialog( _("Cannot open database"), str(msg))
         except OSError, msg:
             self.dbstate.no_database()
             self._errordialog(