diff --git a/beets/ui/__init__.py b/beets/ui/__init__.py
index d208aa692..7720c9358 100644
--- a/beets/ui/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/ui/__init__.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from beets import config
 from beets.util import confit, as_string
 from beets.autotag import mb
 from beets.dbcore import query as db_query
+from beets.dbcore import db
 import six
 
 # On Windows platforms, use colorama to support "ANSI" terminal colors.
@@ -1159,13 +1160,10 @@ def _open_library(config):
         )
         lib.get_item(0)  # Test database connection.
     except (sqlite3.OperationalError, sqlite3.DatabaseError):
-        message = ""
         log.debug(u'{}', traceback.format_exc())
-        if e.args[0] == "unable to open database file":
-            message = "It might be a permissions problem."
-        raise UserError(u"database file {0} could not be opened.%s".format(
+        raise UserError(u"database file {0} could not be opened".format(
             util.displayable_path(dbpath)
-        )%message)
+        ))
     log.debug(u'library database: {0}\n'
               u'library directory: {1}',
               util.displayable_path(lib.path),
@@ -1250,3 +1248,6 @@ def main(args=None):
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         # Silently ignore ^C except in verbose mode.
         log.debug(u'{}', traceback.format_exc())
+    except db.AccessFileError as exc:
+        log.error(u'{0}',exc)
+        sys.exit(1)