diff --git a/django/db/backends/dummy/base.py b/django/db/backends/dummy/base.py
index 746f26bacca..12a940d3a22 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/dummy/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/dummy/base.py
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ from django.db.backends import *
 from django.db.backends.creation import BaseDatabaseCreation
 
 def complain(*args, **kwargs):
-    raise ImproperlyConfigured("You haven't set the database ENGINE setting yet.")
+    raise ImproperlyConfigured("settings.DATABASES is improperly configured. "
+                               "Please supply the ENGINE value. Check "
+                               "settings documentation for more details.")
 
 def ignore(*args, **kwargs):
     pass