diff --git a/scripts/ip-geolocation-maxmind.nse b/scripts/ip-geolocation-maxmind.nse
index d45e9a905..e9ccb674f 100644
--- a/scripts/ip-geolocation-maxmind.nse
+++ b/scripts/ip-geolocation-maxmind.nse
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ local GeoIP = {
 		self.__index = self
 		o._filename=filename
 		local err
-		o._filehandle= assert(io.open(filename,'rb'))
+		o._filehandle= assert(io.open(filename,'rb'), "Cannot open Maxmind database file")
 		o._databaseType = MaxmindDef.COUNTRY_EDITION
 		o._recordLength = MaxmindDef.STANDARD_RECORD_LENGTH