diff --git a/js/tt-rss.js b/js/tt-rss.js
index bb23169ec..a66411d11 100644
--- a/js/tt-rss.js
+++ b/js/tt-rss.js
@@ -989,6 +989,12 @@ function handle_rpc_json(transport, scheduled_call) {
 	try {
 		var reply = JSON.parse(transport.responseText);
 
+		var netalert_dijit = dijit.byId("net-alert");
+		var netalert = false;
+
+		if (netalert_dijit)
+			netalert = netalert_dijit.domNode;
+
 		if (reply) {
 
 			var error = reply['error'];
@@ -1035,16 +1041,21 @@ function handle_rpc_json(transport, scheduled_call) {
 			if (runtime_info)
 				parse_runtime_info(runtime_info);
 
-			Element.hide(dijit.byId("net-alert").domNode);
+			if (netalert) Element.hide(netalert);
 
 		} else {
-			//notify_error("Error communicating with server.");
-			Element.show(dijit.byId("net-alert").domNode);
+			if (netalert)
+				Element.show(netalert);
+			else
+				notify_error("Communication problem with server.");
 		}
 
 	} catch (e) {
-		Element.show(dijit.byId("net-alert").domNode);
-		//notify_error("Error communicating with server.");
+		if (netalert)
+			Element.show(netalert);
+		else
+			notify_error("Communication problem with server.");
+
 		console.log(e);
 		//exception_error("handle_rpc_json", e, transport);
 	}
diff --git a/js/viewfeed.js b/js/viewfeed.js
index 8a07965fc..1a5f87d7c 100644
--- a/js/viewfeed.js
+++ b/js/viewfeed.js
@@ -194,14 +194,11 @@ function headlines_callback2(transport, offset, background, infscroll_req) {
 			else
 				request_counters(true);
 
-		} else if (transport.responseText) {
+		} else {
 			console.error("Invalid object received: " + transport.responseText);
 			dijit.byId("headlines-frame").attr('content', "<div class='whiteBox'>" +
 					__('Could not update headlines (invalid object received - see error console for details)') +
 					"</div>");
-		} else {
-			//notify_error("Error communicating with server.");
-			Element.show(dijit.byId("net-alert").domNode);
 		}
 
 		_infscroll_request_sent = 0;
@@ -318,13 +315,11 @@ function article_callback2(transport, id) {
 //				return;
 //			}
 
-		} else if (transport.responseText) {
+		} else {
 			console.error("Invalid object received: " + transport.responseText);
 
 			render_article("<div class='whiteBox'>" +
 					__('Could not display article (invalid object received - see error console for details)') + "</div>");
-		} else {
-			Element.show(dijit.byId("net-alert").domNode);
 		}
 
 		var unread_in_buffer = $$("#headlines-frame > div[id*=RROW][class*=Unread]").length