diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/DatabaseManager.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/DatabaseManager.java
index a10ab67514..c8c49a19ac 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/DatabaseManager.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/storage/rdbms/DatabaseManager.java
@@ -1787,6 +1787,39 @@ public class DatabaseManager
 	    }
 	}
 
+    /**
+     * Main method used to perform tests on the database
+     *
+     * @param args The command line arguments
+     */
+    public static void main(String[] args)
+    {
+        // Get something from dspace.cfg to get the log lines out the way
+        String url = ConfigurationManager.getProperty("db.url");
+
+        // Try to connect to the database
+        System.out.println("\nAttempting to connect to database: ");
+        System.out.println(" - URL: " + url);
+        System.out.println(" - Driver: " + ConfigurationManager.getProperty("db.driver"));
+        System.out.println(" - Username: " + ConfigurationManager.getProperty("db.username"));
+        System.out.println(" - Password: " + ConfigurationManager.getProperty("db.password"));
+        System.out.println(" - Schema: " + ConfigurationManager.getProperty("db.schema"));
+        System.out.println("\nTesting connection...");
+        try
+        {
+            Connection connection = DatabaseManager.getConnection();
+        }
+        catch (SQLException sqle)
+        {
+            System.err.println("\nError: ");
+            System.err.println(" - " + sqle);
+            System.err.println("\nPlease see the DSpace documentation for assistance.\n");
+            System.exit(1);
+        }
+
+        System.out.println("Connected succesfully!\n");
+    }
+
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/dspace/CHANGES b/dspace/CHANGES
index e6758d9a64..62d9e5178e 100644
--- a/dspace/CHANGES
+++ b/dspace/CHANGES
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@
  - [DS-389] Misleading label: "Submit to This Collection"
  - [DS-424] Export metadata button displayed in JSPUI Administration List of withdrawn items
  - [DS-442] Enable RSS feeds by default
+ - [DS-445] New Bitstream.findAll() method
+ - [DS-446] New ant step - test_database
 
 (Larry Stone)
  - [DS-284] alternate odd and even styles correctly on table rows in Item Summary view
diff --git a/dspace/config/launcher.xml b/dspace/config/launcher.xml
index 52e1dfe94a..f6b02a9b7c 100644
--- a/dspace/config/launcher.xml
+++ b/dspace/config/launcher.xml
@@ -247,6 +247,14 @@
         </step>
     </command>
 
+    <command>
+        <name>test-database</name>
+        <description>Test the DSpace database connection is OK</description>
+        <step>
+            <class>org.dspace.storage.rdbms.DatabaseManager</class>
+        </step>
+    </command>
+
     <command>
         <name>sub-daily</name>
         <description>Send daily subscription notices</description>
diff --git a/dspace/src/main/config/build.xml b/dspace/src/main/config/build.xml
index facca4bfe3..947f253c11 100644
--- a/dspace/src/main/config/build.xml
+++ b/dspace/src/main/config/build.xml
@@ -590,6 +590,19 @@ Common usage:
     	
     </target>
 
+    <!-- ============================================================= -->
+    <!-- Check the connection to the database                          -->
+    <!-- ============================================================= -->
+
+    <!-- Test the connection to the database -->
+    <target name="test_database">
+        <java classname="org.dspace.storage.rdbms.DatabaseManager" classpathref="class.path" fork="yes" failonerror="yes">
+            <sysproperty key="log4j.configuration" value="file:config/log4j-console.properties" />
+            <sysproperty key="dspace.log.init.disable" value="true" />
+            <sysproperty key="dspace.configuration" value="${config}" />
+        </java>
+    </target>
+
 
     <!-- ============================================================= -->
     <!-- Create the database tables                                    -->
@@ -677,7 +690,7 @@ Common usage:
     <!-- Do a fresh system install                                     -->
     <!-- ============================================================= -->
 
-    <target name="fresh_install" depends="init_installation,init_configs,setup_database,load_registries" description="Do a fresh install of the system, overwriting any data">
+    <target name="fresh_install" depends="test_database,init_installation,init_configs,setup_database,load_registries" description="Do a fresh install of the system, overwriting any data">
 
         <delete failonerror="no">
             <fileset dir="${dspace.dir}/bin" includes="**/*" />