diff --git a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
index 7f22050453..41d1035d94 100644
--- a/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
+++ b/wp-includes/taxonomy.php
@@ -1152,13 +1152,15 @@ function wp_insert_term( $term, $taxonomy, $args = array() ) {
 	}
 
 	if ( ! $term_id = is_term($slug) ) {
-		$wpdb->insert( $wpdb->terms, compact( 'name', 'slug', 'term_group' ) );
+		if ( false === $wpdb->insert( $wpdb->terms, compact( 'name', 'slug', 'term_group' ) ) )
+			return new WP_Error('db_insert_error', __('Could not insert term into the database'));
 		$term_id = (int) $wpdb->insert_id;
 	} else if ( is_taxonomy_hierarchical($taxonomy) && !empty($parent) ) {
 		// If the taxonomy supports hierarchy and the term has a parent, make the slug unique
 		// by incorporating parent slugs.
 		$slug = wp_unique_term_slug($slug, (object) $args);
-		$wpdb->insert( $wpdb->terms, compact( 'name', 'slug', 'term_group' ) );
+		if ( false === $wpdb->insert( $wpdb->terms, compact( 'name', 'slug', 'term_group' ) ) )
+			return new WP_Error('db_insert_error', __('Could not insert term into the database'));
 		$term_id = (int) $wpdb->insert_id;
 	}