diff --git a/src/core.c b/src/core.c
index ecd34972..0efcb928 100644
--- a/src/core.c
+++ b/src/core.c
@@ -8371,7 +8371,12 @@ static int __cold mdbx_read_header(MDBX_env *env, MDBX_meta *dest,
       (!META_IS_STEADY(dest) &&
        !meta_weak_acceptable(env, dest, lck_exclusive))) {
     mdbx_error("%s", "no usable meta-pages, database is corrupted");
-    return rc ? rc : MDBX_CORRUPTED;
+    if (rc == MDBX_SUCCESS) {
+      /* TODO: try to restore the database by fully checking b-tree structure
+       * for the each meta page, if the corresponding option was given */
+      return MDBX_CORRUPTED;
+    }
+    return rc;
   }
 
   return MDBX_SUCCESS;