diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/search/impl/lucene/query/LeafScorer.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/search/impl/lucene/query/LeafScorer.java
index fe05f1a671..ace9556e73 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/search/impl/lucene/query/LeafScorer.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/search/impl/lucene/query/LeafScorer.java
@@ -215,9 +215,13 @@ public class LeafScorer extends Scorer
                     counter.count++;
                 }
             }
-            if (parentIds.size() != 1)
+            if (parentIds.size() > 1)
             {
-                throw new SearcherException("More than one root node? " + parentIds.size());
+                throw new SearcherException("More than one root node in index: " + parentIds.size());
+            }
+            else if (parentIds.size() == 0)
+            {
+                throw new SearcherException("Index has no root node.  Check that the correct index locations are being used.");
             }
         }