diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js
index a55bc94712..6762d68cc4 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/zotero.js
@@ -333,7 +333,14 @@ var Zotero = new function(){
 			}
 			catch (e) {
 				if (typeof e == 'string' && e.match('newer than SQL file')) {
-					_startupError = e;
+					// TODO: localize
+					var zoteroVersionIsOlder = "This version of Zotero is older than the version last used with your database.";
+					var upgradeToLatestVersion = "Please upgrade to the latest version from zotero.org.";
+					var currentVersion = "Current version: " + this.version;
+					var kbURL = "http://zotero.org/support/kb/newer_db_version";
+					var seeKB = "See " + kbURL + " for more information.";
+					var msg = Zotero.localeJoin([zoteroVersionIsOlder, upgradeToLatestVersion]) + "\n\n" + currentVersion + "\n\n" + seeKB;
+					_startupError = msg;
 				}
 				else {
 					_startupError = "Database upgrade error";