diff --git a/ideal/includes/ideal.transaction.inc b/ideal/includes/ideal.transaction.inc
index b1b8708..0bc5fad 100644
--- a/ideal/includes/ideal.transaction.inc
+++ b/ideal/includes/ideal.transaction.inc
@@ -654,6 +654,12 @@ class iDEALAcquirer extends iDEALBase {
     $cid = 'ideal_issuers_' . $merchant->imid . '_' . (variable_get('ideal_test', TRUE) ? 'test' : 'live');
     $cache = cache_get($cid);
     if ($cache) {
+      if (empty($cache->data) && variable_get('ideal_debug', TRUE)) {
+        // The caller will say 'banks could not be retrieved', which is misleading.
+        drupal_set_message(t('Retrieving the list of issuing banks will not be retried for another !s seconds.', array(
+          '!s' => $cache->expire - time()
+        )), 'error');
+      }
       return $cache->data;
     }
     else {