diff --git a/configure/modules/RULES_E3 b/configure/modules/RULES_E3
index 5e708d4a047f410bbbac785b460c903430d3ba08..1eaeee5f89d3ddcd8b493bc9300d639ba0ba154d 100644
--- a/configure/modules/RULES_E3
+++ b/configure/modules/RULES_E3
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ help:
 ## Install current module to $(EPICS_BASE)/require/$(E3_REQUIRE_VERSION)/siteMods
 install: install_module install_links
 
+db: err_no_db_rule
+
+err_no_db_rule:
+	$(error The 'db' target has been discontinued. If you have custom database expansion rule to use, please contact the e3 team)
+
 install_module: build db_internal
 	$(QUIET) $(E3_MODULE_MAKE_CMDS) install