diff --git a/src/js/services/shapeshift.service.js b/src/js/services/shapeshift.service.js
index fdfe5bcca..7b3076b87 100644
--- a/src/js/services/shapeshift.service.js
+++ b/src/js/services/shapeshift.service.js
@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ angular
     return service;
 
     function handleError(response, defaultMessage, cb) {
-      if (!response || !response.error || !response.error.message) {
+      if (!response) {
         cb(new Error(defaultMessage));
+      } else if (response.error && !response.error.message) {
+        cb(new Error(response.error));
       } else {
         cb(new Error(response.error.message));
       }