diff --git a/src/dataregistry/db_basic.py b/src/dataregistry/db_basic.py
index bc26e70e..833dafb6 100644
--- a/src/dataregistry/db_basic.py
+++ b/src/dataregistry/db_basic.py
@@ -177,7 +177,10 @@ def __init__(self, db_connection, get_db_version=True):
             prov_name = ".".join([self._schema, "provenance"])
 
         if prov_name not in self._metadata.tables:
-            raise DataRegistryException(f"Incompatible database: no Provenance table {prov_name}")
+            raise DataRegistryException(
+                f"Incompatible database: no Provenance table {prov_name}, "
+                f"listed tables are {self._metadata.tables}"
+                )
 
         if prov_name in self._metadata.tables and get_db_version:
             prov_table = self._metadata.tables[prov_name]