diff --git a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/databases/local-databases-ui.ts b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/databases/local-databases-ui.ts
index 0a53c985b..102ffc462 100644
--- a/extensions/ql-vscode/src/databases/local-databases-ui.ts
+++ b/extensions/ql-vscode/src/databases/local-databases-ui.ts
@@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ export class DatabaseUI extends DisposableObject {
           failures.push(entry[0]);
         }
       } catch (e) {
-        failures.push(`${entry[0]}: ${getErrorMessage(e)}`);
+        failures.push(`${entry[0]}: ${getErrorMessage(e)}`.trim());
       }
     }