diff --git a/auth/db/auth.php b/auth/db/auth.php
index fb3c2d23565..e3582f59f4d 100644
--- a/auth/db/auth.php
+++ b/auth/db/auth.php
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class auth_plugin_db extends auth_plugin_base {
                                      WHERE {$this->config->fielduser} = '".$this->ext_addslashes($extusername)."' ");
             if (!$rs) {
                 $authdb->Close();
-                print_error('auth_dbcantconnect','auth');
+                debugging(get_string('auth_dbcantconnect','auth'));
                 return false;
             }
 
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class auth_plugin_db extends auth_plugin_base {
                                   AND {$this->config->fieldpass} = '".$this->ext_addslashes($extpassword)."' ");
             if (!$rs) {
                 $authdb->Close();
-                print_error('auth_dbcantconnect','auth');
+                debugging(get_string('auth_dbcantconnect','auth'));
                 return false;
             }