diff --git a/benches/get_chat_msgs.rs b/benches/get_chat_msgs.rs
index 680ac1275..48f4d2c42 100644
--- a/benches/get_chat_msgs.rs
+++ b/benches/get_chat_msgs.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ fn criterion_benchmark(c: &mut Criterion) {
             b.to_async(AsyncStdExecutor)
                 .iter(|| get_chat_msgs_benchmark(black_box(&path.as_ref()), black_box(&chats)))
         });
+    } else {
+        println!("env var not set: DELTACHAT_BENCHMARK_DATABASE");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/benches/get_chatlist.rs b/benches/get_chatlist.rs
index d7c1d2064..1ea629c6c 100644
--- a/benches/get_chatlist.rs
+++ b/benches/get_chatlist.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ fn criterion_benchmark(c: &mut Criterion) {
             b.to_async(AsyncStdExecutor)
                 .iter(|| get_chat_list_benchmark(black_box(&context)))
         });
+    } else {
+        println!("env var not set: DELTACHAT_BENCHMARK_DATABASE");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/benches/search_msgs.rs b/benches/search_msgs.rs
index 8c1b8b770..0c75693eb 100644
--- a/benches/search_msgs.rs
+++ b/benches/search_msgs.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ fn criterion_benchmark(c: &mut Criterion) {
         c.bench_function("search hello", |b| {
             b.iter(|| block_on(async { search_benchmark(black_box(&path)).await }))
         });
+    } else {
+        println!("env var not set: DELTACHAT_BENCHMARK_DATABASE");
     }
 }