diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
index 5d63c51d4..d338d7665 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ long dbGet(DBADDR *paddr, short dbrType,
             DBADDR localAddr = *paddr; /* Structure copy */
 
             if (pfl->no_elements < 1) {
-                status = S_db_badField;
+                status = S_db_emptyArray;
                 goto done;
             }
 
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
index 5715df35d..16bc471fc 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbAccessDefs.h
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ struct dbr_alDouble     {DBRalDouble};
 #define S_db_noMemory   (M_dbAccess|66) /*unable to allocate data structure from pool*/
 #define S_db_notInit    (M_dbAccess|67) /*Not initialized*/
 #define S_db_bufFull    (M_dbAccess|68) /*Buffer full*/
+#define S_db_emptyArray (M_dbAccess|69) /*Array has no elements*/
 
 struct dbEntry;
 
diff --git a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c
index a502df2f8..ba5294c18 100644
--- a/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c
+++ b/modules/database/src/ioc/db/dbDbLink.c
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ static long dbDbGetValue(struct link *plink, short dbrType, void *pbuffer,
 
         /* For the moment, empty arrays are not supported by EPICS */
         if (dbChannelFinalElements(chan) <= 0) /* empty array request */
-            return S_db_badField;
+            return S_db_emptyArray;
 
         if (ellCount(&chan->filters)) {
             /* If filters are involved in a read, create field log and run filters */
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static long dbDbGetValue(struct link *plink, short dbrType, void *pbuffer,
             return status;
 
         if (pnRequest && *pnRequest <= 0) /* empty array result */
-            return S_db_badField;
+            return S_db_emptyArray;
     }
 
     if (!status && precord != dbChannelRecord(chan))
diff --git a/modules/database/test/std/rec/linkFilterTest.c b/modules/database/test/std/rec/linkFilterTest.c
index 6f38d249e..12eba74ca 100644
--- a/modules/database/test/std/rec/linkFilterTest.c
+++ b/modules/database/test/std/rec/linkFilterTest.c
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ static void expectProcSuccess(const char *rec)
 static void expectProcFailure(const char *rec)
 {
     char fieldname[20];
-    testDiag("expecting failure S_db_badField %#x from %s", S_db_badField, rec);
+    testDiag("expecting failure S_db_emptyArray %#x from %s", S_db_emptyArray, rec);
     sprintf(fieldname, "%s.PROC", rec);
-    testdbPutFieldFail(S_db_badField, fieldname, DBF_LONG, 1);
+    testdbPutFieldFail(S_db_emptyArray, fieldname, DBF_LONG, 1);
     sprintf(fieldname, "%s.SEVR", rec);
     testdbGetFieldEqual(fieldname, DBF_LONG, INVALID_ALARM);
     sprintf(fieldname, "%s.STAT", rec);