--- /usr/portage/dev-db/mysql-init-scripts/files/mysql-5.1.67-init.d	2013-01-17 20:51:47.000000000 -0500
+++ mysql-5.1.67-init.d	2014-05-15 10:23:53.905507415 -0400
@@ -59,8 +59,15 @@
 	fi
 
 	if [ ! -d "${datadir}"/mysql ] ; then
-		eerror "You don't appear to have the mysql database installed yet."
-		eerror "Please run /usr/bin/mysql_install_db to have this done..."
+		# find which package is installed to report an error
+		local EROOT=$(portageq envvar EROOT)
+		local DBPKG_P=$(portageq match ${EROOT} $(portageq expand_virtual ${EROOT} virtual/mysql))
+		if [[ -z ${DBPKG_P} ]] ; then
+			eerror "You don't appear to have a server package installed yet."
+		else
+			eerror "You don't appear to have the mysql database installed yet."
+			eerror "Please run \`emerge --config =${DBPKG_P}\` to have this done..."
+		fi
 		return 1
 	fi