diff --git a/changelog b/changelog
index 882b5693..6d0f661c 100644
--- a/changelog
+++ b/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+Wed Oct 16 23:21 2013 CDT
+    * www/assets/js/util.js: Add an errDialog function that shows an
+      error message over the chatbox (instead of alert())
+
 Wed Oct 16 23:09 2013 CDT
     * www/assets/js/util.js: Add a special handler so that clicking
       anywhere on the page clears a userlist dropdown, not just right
diff --git a/www/assets/js/callbacks.js b/www/assets/js/callbacks.js
index 72505b7d..52794891 100644
--- a/www/assets/js/callbacks.js
+++ b/www/assets/js/callbacks.js
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Callbacks = {
     },
 
     errorMsg: function(data) {
-        alert(data.msg);
+        errDialog(data.msg);
     },
 
     costanza: function (data) {
diff --git a/www/assets/js/util.js b/www/assets/js/util.js
index 415c6e4c..cbda794f 100644
--- a/www/assets/js/util.js
+++ b/www/assets/js/util.js
@@ -1716,3 +1716,24 @@ function unhidePlayer() {
     $("#ytapiplayer").attr("width", PLAYER.size.width)
         .attr("height", PLAYER.size.height);
 }
+
+function errDialog(err) {
+    var div = $("<div/>").addClass("profile-box")
+        .css("padding", "10px")
+        .text(err)
+        .appendTo($("body"));
+
+    $("<br/>").appendTo(div);
+    $("<button/>").addClass("btn btn-mini")
+        .css("width", "100%")
+        .text("OK")
+        .click(function () { div.remove(); })
+        .appendTo(div);
+    var cw = $("#chatwrap").width();
+    var ch = $("#chatwrap").height();
+    var cp = $("#chatwrap").offset();
+    var x = cp.left + cw/2 - div.width()/2;
+    var y = cp.top + ch/2 - div.height()/2;
+    div.css("left", x + "px");
+    div.css("top", y + "px");
+}