diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/database.py b/lib/spack/spack/database.py
index f941346bb1..a4bbff3d5a 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/database.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/database.py
@@ -631,11 +631,13 @@ def _exit(self):
 class CorruptDatabaseError(SpackError):
     def __init__(self, path, msg=''):
         super(CorruptDatabaseError, self).__init__(
-            "Spack database is corrupt: %s.  %s" % (path, msg))
+            "Spack database is corrupt: %s.  %s." + \
+            "Try running `spack reindex` to fix." % (path, msg))
 
 
 class InvalidDatabaseVersionError(SpackError):
     def __init__(self, expected, found):
         super(InvalidDatabaseVersionError, self).__init__(
-            "Expected database version %s but found version %s" %
+            "Expected database version %s but found version %s." + \
+            "Try running `spack reindex` to fix." %
             (expected, found))