--- loncom/interface/lonmysql.pm	2002/08/12 14:50:18	1.6
+++ loncom/interface/lonmysql.pm	2002/08/21 21:29:51	1.7
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # MySQL utility functions
 #
-# $Id: lonmysql.pm,v 1.6 2002/08/12 14:50:18 matthew Exp $
+# $Id: lonmysql.pm,v 1.7 2002/08/21 21:29:51 matthew Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -327,7 +327,10 @@ sub connect_to_db {
                                $Apache::lonnet::perlvar{'lonSqlAccess'},
                                { RaiseError=>0,PrintError=>0}))) {
         $debugstring = "Unable to connect to loncapa database.";    
-        if ($dbh->err) {
+        if (! defined($dbh)) {
+            $debugstring = "Unable to connect to loncapa database.";
+            $errorstring = "dbh was undefined.";
+        } elsif ($dbh->err) {
             $errorstring = "Connection error: ".$dbh->errstr;
         }
         return undef;