diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 0e5d244297..f67f9c78b0 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -147,7 +147,8 @@ func New(config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	d, _ := db.Get([]byte("ProtocolVersion"))
 	protov := ethutil.NewValue(d).Uint()
 	if protov != ProtocolVersion && protov != 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Database version mismatch. Protocol(%d / %d). `rm -rf %s`", protov, ProtocolVersion, ethutil.Config.ExecPath+"/database")
+		path := path.Join(config.DataDir, "database")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Database version mismatch. Protocol(%d / %d). `rm -rf %s`", protov, ProtocolVersion, path)
 	}
 
 	// Create new keymanager