diff --git a/lib/dao.js b/lib/dao.js
index 223078ed..ac204e22 100644
--- a/lib/dao.js
+++ b/lib/dao.js
@@ -2633,8 +2633,13 @@ DataAccessObject.replaceById = function(id, data, options, cb) {
   assert(typeof cb === 'function', 'The cb argument must be a function');
 
   var connector = this.getConnector();
-  assert(typeof connector.replaceById === 'function',
-          'replaceById() must be implemented by the connector');
+
+  if (typeof connector.replaceById !== 'function') {
+    var err = new Error('The connector ' + connector.name + ' does not support ' +
+      'replaceById operation. This is not a bug in LoopBack. ' +
+      'Please contact the authors of the connector, preferably via GitHub issues.');
+    return cb(err);
+  }
 
   var pkName = idName(this);
   if (!data[pkName]) data[pkName] = id;