diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index 25a2c1a09..764f904c9 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -888,7 +888,9 @@ def _open_library(config):
             get_path_formats(),
             get_replacements(),
         )
-    except sqlite3.OperationalError:
+        lib.get_item(0)  # Test database connection.
+    except (sqlite3.OperationalError, sqlite3.DatabaseError):
+        log.debug(traceback.format_exc())
         raise UserError(u"database file {0} could not be opened".format(
             util.displayable_path(dbpath)
         ))
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index be4da501b..0f4c908ab 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ New:
 Fixed:
 
 * Fix a new crash with the latest version of Mutagen (1.26).
+* We now print a better error message when the database file is corrupted.
 
 .. _Plex: https://plex.tv/