diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java
index 8ee27fb2..83b4a155 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/StaticConnectionProvider.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: StaticConnectionProvider.java,v 1.2 2001/09/21 03:01:46 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: StaticConnectionProvider.java,v 1.3 2001/10/25 01:25:06 mdb Exp $
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001 Michael Bayne
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ public class StaticConnectionProvider implements ConnectionProvider
     {
 	String value = props.getProperty(name);
 	if (StringUtil.blank(value)) {
+            // augment the error message
+            errmsg = "Unable to get connection. " + errmsg;
 	    throw new PersistenceException(errmsg);
 	}
 	return value;