diff --git a/core/base.go b/core/base.go
index e80baff4..4d0c0a34 100644
--- a/core/base.go
+++ b/core/base.go
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ func (app *BaseApp) RefreshSettings() error {
 	encryptionKey := os.Getenv(app.EncryptionEnv())
 
 	storedSettings, err := app.Dao().FindSettings(encryptionKey)
-	if err != nil && err != sql.ErrNoRows {
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows) {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/base_settings_test.go b/core/base_settings_test.go
index 08c51584..4c38a829 100644
--- a/core/base_settings_test.go
+++ b/core/base_settings_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestBaseAppRefreshSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	// check if the new settings are saved in the db
 	app.ResetEventCalls()
 	if err := app.RefreshSettings(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Failed to refresh the settings after delete")
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to refresh the settings after delete: %v", err)
 	}
 	testEventCalls(t, app, map[string]int{
 		"OnModelBeforeCreate": 1,