diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/geoip2/base.py b/django/contrib/gis/geoip2/base.py
index 23f72a58cc..1d5a46653c 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/geoip2/base.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/geoip2/base.py
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ class GeoIP2:
             if os.path.isfile(city_db):
                 self._city = geoip2.database.Reader(city_db, mode=cache)
                 self._city_file = city_db
+
+            if not self._reader:
+                raise GeoIP2Exception('Could not load a database from %s.' % path)
         elif os.path.isfile(path):
             # Otherwise, some detective work will be needed to figure out
             # whether the given database path is for the GeoIP country or city
diff --git a/tests/gis_tests/test_geoip2.py b/tests/gis_tests/test_geoip2.py
index 9ad039bbba..158b014abc 100644
--- a/tests/gis_tests/test_geoip2.py
+++ b/tests/gis_tests/test_geoip2.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import os
-import unittest
 from unittest import mock, skipUnless
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.gis.geoip2 import HAS_GEOIP2
 from django.contrib.gis.geos import GEOSGeometry
+from django.test import SimpleTestCase
 
 if HAS_GEOIP2:
     from django.contrib.gis.geoip2 import GeoIP2, GeoIP2Exception
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ if HAS_GEOIP2:
     HAS_GEOIP2 and getattr(settings, "GEOIP_PATH", None),
     "GeoIP is required along with the GEOIP_PATH setting."
 )
-class GeoIPTest(unittest.TestCase):
+class GeoIPTest(SimpleTestCase):
     addr = '128.249.1.1'
     fqdn = 'tmc.edu'
 
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ class GeoIPTest(unittest.TestCase):
             with self.assertRaises(e):
                 GeoIP2(bad, 0)
 
+    def test_no_database_file(self):
+        invalid_path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'data')
+        msg = 'Could not load a database from %s.' % invalid_path
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(GeoIP2Exception, msg):
+            GeoIP2(invalid_path)
+
     def test02_bad_query(self):
         "GeoIP query parameter checking."
         cntry_g = GeoIP2(city='<foo>')