diff --git a/data/model/health.py b/data/model/health.py
index ca796a48b..80c0cf01d 100644
--- a/data/model/health.py
+++ b/data/model/health.py
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ def check_health(app_config):
   try:
     validate_database_url(app_config['DB_URI'], {}, connect_timeout=3)
   except Exception as ex:
-    return (False, 'Could not connect to the database: %s', ex.message)
+    return (False, 'Could not connect to the database: %s' % ex.message)
 
   # We will connect to the db, check that it contains some team role kinds
   try:
     return (bool(list(TeamRole.select().limit(1))), 'Could not connect to the database')
   except Exception as ex:
-    return (False, 'Could not connect to the database: %s', ex.message)
+    return (False, 'Could not connect to the database: %s' % ex.message)