diff --git a/common/database/driver.go b/common/database/driver.go
index eac8340c..e8184f59 100644
--- a/common/database/driver.go
+++ b/common/database/driver.go
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ import (
 func openerFor(driver string) (func(string) gorm.Dialector, error) {
 	open, ok := opens[driver]
 	if !ok {
+		// sqlite3 is the driver people reach for first, and the one a default
+		// build leaves out. Say how to get it rather than only what is missing.
+		if driver == "sqlite3" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("database driver %q is not in this build, rebuild with -tags sqlite3 (this build supports %s)",
+				driver, strings.Join(supportedDrivers(), ", "))
+		}
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported database driver %q, this build supports %s",
 			driver, strings.Join(supportedDrivers(), ", "))
 	}
diff --git a/common/database/driver_nosqlite_test.go b/common/database/driver_nosqlite_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2d14d52f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/database/driver_nosqlite_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+//go:build !sqlite3
+
+package database
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A default build has no sqlite3, and a config naming it is the usual first
+// run. The error has to say how to get the driver, not only that it is missing.
+func TestOpenerForTellsHowToGetSqliteInADefaultBuild(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := openerFor("sqlite3")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("sqlite3 was accepted by a build without the sqlite3 tag")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "-tags sqlite3") {
+		t.Errorf("error does not say how to enable sqlite3: %s", err)
+	}
+}