diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/dbStatic/dbStaticLib.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/dbStatic/dbStaticLib.c
index 5315f83f8c..a4e43bf348 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/dbStatic/dbStaticLib.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/dbStatic/dbStaticLib.c
@@ -2637,7 +2637,9 @@ long dbPutString(DBENTRY *pdbentry,const char *pstring)
             }
         }
         break;
-
+    case DBF_NOACCESS:
+        dbMsgPrint(pdbentry, "Can't set array field before iocInit()");
+        /* fall through */
     default:
         return S_dbLib_badField;
     }