diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java
index 477a679ab..a036cc9e4 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/DBUtils.java
@@ -1146,6 +1146,14 @@ public class DBUtils {
         }
     }
 
+    public static boolean gameDBExists( Context context )
+    {
+        String name = DBHelper.getDBName();
+        File sdcardDB = new File( Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory(),
+                                  name );
+        return sdcardDB.exists();
+    }
+
     private static void copyGameDB( Context context, boolean toSDCard )
     {
         String name = DBHelper.getDBName();
diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
index 2d8f3b2ec..93eca3af1 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesList.java
@@ -545,6 +545,12 @@ public class GamesList extends XWListActivity
             MenuItem item = menu.findItem( id );
             item.setVisible( visible );
         }
+
+        if ( visible && !DBUtils.gameDBExists( this ) ) {
+            MenuItem item = menu.findItem( R.id.gamel_menu_loaddb );
+            item.setVisible( false );
+        }
+
         return super.onPrepareOptionsMenu( menu );
     }