diff --git a/assets/javascripts/reporting.js b/assets/javascripts/reporting.js
index 515a912655..3484637d55 100644
--- a/assets/javascripts/reporting.js
+++ b/assets/javascripts/reporting.js
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ window.Reporting = {
     if (type === undefined) {
       type = "error";
     }
-    $("content").insert({before: "<div onclick='$(this).remove();' id='flash_" + type + "'>" + string + "</div>"});
+    var flash = document.createElement('div');
+    flash.setAttribute('id', 'flash_' + type);
+    flash.setAttribute('onclick', '$(this).remove();');
+    flash.className = 'flash ' + type;
+    flash.innerHTML = string;
+    $("content").insert({before: flash});
   },
 
   fireEvent: function (element, event) {
diff --git a/assets/javascripts/reporting/controls.js b/assets/javascripts/reporting/controls.js
index 0eaf818e76..c3db22f27a 100644
--- a/assets/javascripts/reporting/controls.js
+++ b/assets/javascripts/reporting/controls.js
@@ -64,8 +64,12 @@ Reporting.Controls = {
 
   send_settings_data: function (targetUrl, callback, failureCallback) {
     if (failureCallback === undefined) {
-      failureCallback = function () {
-        Reporting.flash("There was an error getting the results. The administrator has been informed.");
+      failureCallback = function (response) {
+        if ((response.status + "")[0] === "4") {
+          Reporting.flash(response.responseText);
+        } else {
+          Reporting.flash("There was an error getting the results. The administrator has been informed.");
+        }
       };
     }
     $$('div[id^=flash]').each(function (oldMsg) {