diff --git a/whatprovides b/whatprovides
index 71fc6ff..03bdbb3 100755
--- a/whatprovides
+++ b/whatprovides
@@ -39,9 +39,18 @@ update_database() {
 	echo "[*] Finished."
 }
 
+check_database() {
+	if [ ! -e "${DB_PATH}" ]; then
+		echo "Error: database is not available."
+		echo "Please run '${SCRIPT_NAME} -u' to create it."
+		return 1
+	fi
+}
+
 while getopts :hp:u option; do
 	case "$option" in
 		p)
+			check_database
 			echo "SELECT owned_file FROM 'whatprovides' WHERE package_name == '${OPTARG}' ORDER BY owned_file;" | \
 				sqlite3 "${DB_PATH}" | awk "{ print \"${OPTARG}: \"\$0 }"
 			exit 0
@@ -53,6 +62,7 @@ while getopts :hp:u option; do
 done
 
 if [ $# -ge 1 ]; then
+	check_database
 	echo "SELECT package_name FROM 'whatprovides' WHERE owned_file == '${1}' ORDER BY package_name;" | \
 		sqlite3 "${DB_PATH}" | awk "{ print \$0\": ${1}\" }"
 else