diff --git a/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider.rb b/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider.rb
index 2e8d852f..611199f4 100644
--- a/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider.rb
+++ b/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ def annotate?
             warn "Unable to process #{@file}: #{e.message}"
             warn "\t#{e.backtrace.join("\n\t")}" if @options[:trace]
           end
+        rescue ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished,
+          ActiveRecord::NoDatabaseError => e
+          abort "AnnotateRb: Database connection error - #{e.message}"
         rescue => e
           warn "Unable to process #{@file}: #{e.message}"
           warn "\t#{e.backtrace.join("\n\t")}" if @options[:trace]
diff --git a/spec/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider_spec.rb b/spec/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider_spec.rb
index cd08cb3f..5ece1253 100644
--- a/spec/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/annotate_rb/model_annotator/annotation_decider_spec.rb
@@ -105,4 +105,46 @@
     let(:skip_annotation_prefix) { AnnotateRb::ModelAnnotator::AnnotationDecider::SKIP_ANNOTATION_PREFIX }
     it { is_expected.to be false }
   end
+
+  context "when the database is not accessible" do
+    let(:model) { double("User") }
+
+    context "when ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished is raised" do
+      before do
+        allow(AnnotateRb::ModelAnnotator::ModelClassGetter).to receive(:call)
+          .and_raise(ActiveRecord::ConnectionNotEstablished)
+      end
+
+      it "aborts with an error message instead of silently returning false" do
+        expect { subject }.to raise_error(SystemExit)
+          .and output(/AnnotateRb: Database connection error/).to_stderr
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when ActiveRecord::NoDatabaseError is raised" do
+      before do
+        allow(AnnotateRb::ModelAnnotator::ModelClassGetter).to receive(:call)
+          .and_raise(ActiveRecord::NoDatabaseError)
+      end
+
+      it "aborts with an error message instead of silently returning false" do
+        expect { subject }.to raise_error(SystemExit)
+          .and output(/AnnotateRb: Database connection error/).to_stderr
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  context "when an unexpected error is raised" do
+    let(:model) { double("User") }
+
+    before do
+      allow(AnnotateRb::ModelAnnotator::ModelClassGetter).to receive(:call)
+        .and_raise(RuntimeError, "oops")
+    end
+
+    it "rescues the error and returns false" do
+      expect { subject }.to output(/Unable to process #{file}: oops/).to_stderr
+      expect(subject).to be false
+    end
+  end
 end