With the command hdparm -I /dev/sdX you can check if ATA Secure Erase is supported by the respective hard disk. If the output shows among others things supported: enhanced erase this is the case. Instead of sdX you must of course specify the respective hard disk.
After I posted :
I ran hdparm --security... and did not get an error.
Then I ran hpparm -I and found that the drive did not have the secure erase feature.
So I did not get the error on a drive that should have errored. I am guessing the Security Erase command just spews the appropriate command at the drive and nothing Is reported back.