diff --git a/src/DBConnection.cpp b/src/DBConnection.cpp
index 54cd5a652..967f1b471 100644
--- a/src/DBConnection.cpp
+++ b/src/DBConnection.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Paul Licameli -- split from ProjectFileIO.cpp
 
 #include "Internat.h"
 #include "Project.h"
+#include "FileException.h"
 
 // Configuration to provide "safe" connections
 static const char *SafeConfig =
@@ -157,6 +158,20 @@ bool DBConnection::Close()
    return true;
 }
 
+[[noreturn]] void DBConnection::ThrowException( bool write ) const
+{
+   // Sqlite3 documentation says returned character string
+   // does NOT require freeing by us.
+   wxString dbName{ sqlite3_db_filename(mDB, "main") };
+   // Now we have an absolute path.  Throw a message box exception that
+   // formats a helpful message just as used to be done before sqlite3
+   // was used for projects.
+   throw FileException{
+      write ? FileException::Cause::Write : FileException::Cause::Read,
+      dbName
+   };
+}
+
 bool DBConnection::SafeMode(const char *schema /* = "main" */)
 {
    return ModeConfig(mDB, schema, SafeConfig);
diff --git a/src/DBConnection.h b/src/DBConnection.h
index d2dd7f5b6..28e679449 100644
--- a/src/DBConnection.h
+++ b/src/DBConnection.h
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ public:
    bool Open(const char *fileName);
    bool Close();
 
+   //! throw and show appropriate message box
+   [[noreturn]] void ThrowException(
+      bool write //!< If true, a database update failed; if false, only a SELECT failed
+   ) const;
+
    bool SafeMode(const char *schema = "main");
    bool FastMode(const char *schema = "main");
 
diff --git a/src/SqliteSampleBlock.cpp b/src/SqliteSampleBlock.cpp
index 39e51df55..407f88802 100644
--- a/src/SqliteSampleBlock.cpp
+++ b/src/SqliteSampleBlock.cpp
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ size_t SqliteSampleBlock::GetBlob(void *dest,
 
       // Just showing the user a simple message, not the library error too
       // which isn't internationalized
-      throw SimpleMessageBoxException{ XO("Failed to retrieve project data") };
+      Conn()->ThrowException( false );
    }
 
    // Retrieve returned data
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ void SqliteSampleBlock::Load(SampleBlockID sbid)
 
       // Just showing the user a simple message, not the library error too
       // which isn't internationalized
-      throw SimpleMessageBoxException{ XO("Failed to retrieve sample block") };
+      Conn()->ThrowException( false );
    }
 
    // Retrieve returned data
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ void SqliteSampleBlock::Commit()
 
       // Just showing the user a simple message, not the library error too
       // which isn't internationalized
-      throw SimpleMessageBoxException{ XO("Failed to add sample block") };
+      Conn()->ThrowException( true );
    }
 
    // Retrieve returned data
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ void SqliteSampleBlock::Delete()
 
       // Just showing the user a simple message, not the library error too
       // which isn't internationalized
-      throw SimpleMessageBoxException{ XO("Failed to delete sample block") };
+      Conn()->ThrowException( true );
    }
 
    // Clear statement bindings and rewind statement