# DP: suggest installation of python3-gdbm package on failing _gdbm import

--- a/Lib/dbm/gnu.py
+++ b/Lib/dbm/gnu.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 """Provide the _gdbm module as a dbm submodule."""
 
-from _gdbm import *
+try:
+    from _gdbm import *
+except ImportError as msg:
+    raise ImportError(str(msg) + ', please install the python3-gdbm package')