diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index b693749408..a1fd5c8bea 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+2814.	[func]		Provide a definitive error message when a master
+			zone is not loaded. [RT #20757]
+ 
 2813.	[bug]		Better handling of unreadable DNSSEC key files.
 			[RT #20710]
 
diff --git a/lib/dns/zone.c b/lib/dns/zone.c
index 37ae4b62df..7de739159a 100644
--- a/lib/dns/zone.c
+++ b/lib/dns/zone.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  * PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
  */
 
-/* $Id: zone.c,v 1.543 2009/12/18 23:49:03 tbox Exp $ */
+/* $Id: zone.c,v 1.544 2009/12/21 04:29:10 marka Exp $ */
 
 /*! \file */
 
@@ -3634,7 +3634,8 @@ zone_postload(dns_zone_t *zone, dns_db_t *db, isc_time_t loadtime,
 		if (zone->task != NULL)
 			zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 		result = ISC_R_SUCCESS;
-	}
+	} else if (zone->type == dns_zone_master)
+		dns_zone_log(zone, ISC_LOG_ERROR, "not loaded due to errors.");
 	return (result);
 }