diff --git a/lib/database.cc b/lib/database.cc
index 510d13cb..205d0360 100644
--- a/lib/database.cc
+++ b/lib/database.cc
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ notmuch_status_to_string (notmuch_status_t status)
     case NOTMUCH_STATUS_OUT_OF_MEMORY:
 	return "Out of memory";
     case NOTMUCH_STATUS_READONLY_DATABASE:
-	return "The database is read-only";
+	return "Attempt to write to a read-only database";
     case NOTMUCH_STATUS_XAPIAN_EXCEPTION:
 	return "A Xapian exception occurred";
     case NOTMUCH_STATUS_FILE_ERROR:
diff --git a/lib/notmuch.h b/lib/notmuch.h
index 13efd5db..d9fe152a 100644
--- a/lib/notmuch.h
+++ b/lib/notmuch.h
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ typedef int notmuch_bool_t;
  * value. Instead we should map to things like DATABASE_LOCKED or
  * whatever.
  *
+ * NOTMUCH_STATUS_READONLY_DATABASE: An attempt was made to write to a
+ *	database opened in read-only mode.
+ *
  * NOTMUCH_STATUS_XAPIAN_EXCEPTION: A Xapian exception occurred
  *
  * NOTMUCH_STATUS_FILE_ERROR: An error occurred trying to read or