diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp b/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp
index b67272926..d889aa405 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/connection.hpp
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ public:
         std::string status;
         if (conn_)
         {
-            status = PQerrorMessage(conn_);
+            if ( isOK() ) return PQerrorMessage(conn_);
+            else return "Bad connection";
         }
         else
         {