diff --git a/client/app/scripts/components/status.js b/client/app/scripts/components/status.js
index 11f2b3078..017b45a1d 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/components/status.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/components/status.js
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ export default class Status extends React.Component {
       classNames += ' status-loading';
       showWarningIcon = true;
     } else if (!this.props.topologiesLoaded) {
-      text = 'Loading topologies...';
+      text = 'Connecting to Scope...';
       classNames += ' status-loading';
-      showWarningIcon = false;
+      showWarningIcon = true;
     } else if (this.props.websocketClosed) {
       classNames += ' status-loading';
       showWarningIcon = true;
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js b/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
index 5b17145c1..c6d6d14e7 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/stores/app-store.js
@@ -424,8 +424,10 @@ export class AppStore extends Store {
       break;
 
     case ActionTypes.CLOSE_WEBSOCKET:
-      websocketClosed = true;
-      this.__emitChange();
+      if (!websocketClosed) {
+        websocketClosed = true;
+        this.__emitChange();
+      }
       break;
 
     case ActionTypes.DESELECT_NODE:
@@ -502,8 +504,10 @@ export class AppStore extends Store {
       break;
 
     case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_ERROR:
-      errorUrl = payload.errorUrl;
-      this.__emitChange();
+      if (errorUrl !== null) {
+        errorUrl = payload.errorUrl;
+        this.__emitChange();
+      }
       break;
 
     case ActionTypes.RECEIVE_NODE_DETAILS:
diff --git a/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js b/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
index fe48b0fac..eb593bec3 100644
--- a/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
+++ b/client/app/scripts/utils/web-api-utils.js
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ function createWebsocket(topologyUrl, optionsQuery) {
     socket.onclose = null;
     socket.onerror = null;
     socket.close();
+    // onclose() is not called, but that's fine since we're opening a new one
+    // right away
   }
 
   socket = new WebSocket(wsUrl + topologyUrl
@@ -74,9 +76,9 @@ function createWebsocket(topologyUrl, optionsQuery) {
 
   socket.onclose = function() {
     clearTimeout(reconnectTimer);
+    log('Closing websocket to ' + topologyUrl, socket.readyState);
     socket = null;
     closeWebsocket();
-    log('Closed websocket to ' + topologyUrl);
 
     reconnectTimer = setTimeout(function() {
       createWebsocket(topologyUrl, optionsQuery);
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ export function getTopologies(options) {
       }, TOPOLOGY_INTERVAL);
     },
     error: function(err) {
-      log('Error in topology request: ' + err);
+      log('Error in topology request: ' + err.responseText);
       receiveError(url);
       topologyTimer = setTimeout(function() {
         getTopologies(options);
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ export function getApiDetails() {
       apiDetailsTimer = setTimeout(getApiDetails, API_INTERVAL);
     },
     error: function(err) {
-      log('Error in api details request: ' + err);
+      log('Error in api details request: ' + err.responseText);
       receiveError(url);
       apiDetailsTimer = setTimeout(getApiDetails, API_INTERVAL / 2);
     }