diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index af2b79a19..d3c3dafc2 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -1193,10 +1193,11 @@ def _open_library(config):
             get_replacements(),
         )
         lib.get_item(0)  # Test database connection.
-    except (sqlite3.OperationalError, sqlite3.DatabaseError):
+    except (sqlite3.OperationalError, sqlite3.DatabaseError) as db_error:
         log.debug(u'{}', traceback.format_exc())
-        raise UserError(u"database file {0} could not be opened".format(
-            util.displayable_path(dbpath)
+        raise UserError(u"database file {0} cannot not be opened: {1}".format(
+            util.displayable_path(dbpath),
+            db_error
         ))
     log.debug(u'library database: {0}\n'
               u'library directory: {1}',
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 0d4d01535..45d8220fe 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ Fixes:
   with CORS enabled.
   Thanks to :user:`rveachkc`.
   :bug:`2979`: :bug:`2980`
+* Improve error reporting: during startup if sqlite returns an error the
+  sqlite error message is attached to the beets message.
+  :bug:`3005`
 
 .. _python-itunes: https://github.com/ocelma/python-itunes