diff --git a/calendar/calendar.error.xml b/calendar/calendar.error.xml
index 6ba4ed1e8d..3d1f2c94a5 100644
--- a/calendar/calendar.error.xml
+++ b/calendar/calendar.error.xml
@@ -271,6 +271,24 @@
   <button stock ="gtk-ok" response="GTK_RESPONSE_YES"/>
  </error>
 
+ <error id="failed-open-calendar" type="error" default="GTK_RESPONSE_YES">
+  <_primary>Error loading calendar</_primary>
+  <secondary>{0}</secondary>
+  <button stock ="gtk-ok" response="GTK_RESPONSE_YES"/>
+ </error>
+
+ <error id="failed-open-tasks" type="error" default="GTK_RESPONSE_YES">
+  <_primary>Error loading task list</_primary>
+  <secondary>{0}</secondary>
+  <button stock ="gtk-ok" response="GTK_RESPONSE_YES"/>
+ </error>
+
+ <error id="failed-open-memos" type="error" default="GTK_RESPONSE_YES">
+  <_primary>Error loading memo list</_primary>
+  <secondary>{0}</secondary>
+  <button stock ="gtk-ok" response="GTK_RESPONSE_YES"/>
+ </error>
+
  <error id="server-version" type="warning">
  <_primary>Some features may not work properly with your current server.</_primary>
  <_secondary>You are connecting to an unsupported GroupWise server and may encounter problems using Evolution. For best results, the server should be upgraded to a supported version.</_secondary>
diff --git a/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-sidebar.c b/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-sidebar.c
index b8b7f4b03e..1cd4ba9619 100644
--- a/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-sidebar.c
+++ b/modules/calendar/e-cal-shell-sidebar.c
@@ -215,6 +215,13 @@ cal_shell_sidebar_client_opened_cb (ECalShellSidebar *cal_shell_sidebar,
 			/* fall through */
 
 		default:
+			if (error->code != E_CALENDAR_STATUS_REPOSITORY_OFFLINE) {
+				e_alert_run_dialog_for_args (
+					GTK_WINDOW (shell_window),
+					"calendar:failed-open-calendar",
+					error->message, NULL);
+			}
+
 			e_cal_shell_sidebar_remove_source (
 				cal_shell_sidebar,
 				e_cal_get_source (client));
@@ -263,6 +270,11 @@ cal_shell_sidebar_default_opened_cb (ECalShellSidebar *cal_shell_sidebar,
 			return;
 
 		default:
+			e_alert_run_dialog_for_args (
+				GTK_WINDOW (e_shell_view_get_shell_window (shell_view)),
+				"calendar:failed-open-calendar",
+				error->message, NULL);
+
 			e_cal_shell_sidebar_remove_source (
 				cal_shell_sidebar,
 				e_cal_get_source (client));
diff --git a/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-sidebar.c b/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-sidebar.c
index c0001d19af..7b4b8f71b6 100644
--- a/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-sidebar.c
+++ b/modules/calendar/e-memo-shell-sidebar.c
@@ -209,6 +209,13 @@ memo_shell_sidebar_client_opened_cb (EMemoShellSidebar *memo_shell_sidebar,
 			/* fall through */
 
 		default:
+			if (error->code != E_CALENDAR_STATUS_REPOSITORY_OFFLINE) {
+				e_alert_run_dialog_for_args (
+					GTK_WINDOW (shell_window),
+					"calendar:failed-open-memos",
+					error->message, NULL);
+			}
+
 			e_memo_shell_sidebar_remove_source (
 				memo_shell_sidebar,
 				e_cal_get_source (client));
@@ -257,6 +264,11 @@ memo_shell_sidebar_default_opened_cb (EMemoShellSidebar *memo_shell_sidebar,
 			return;
 
 		default:
+			e_alert_run_dialog_for_args (
+				GTK_WINDOW (e_shell_view_get_shell_window (shell_view)),
+				"calendar:failed-open-memos",
+				error->message, NULL);
+
 			e_memo_shell_sidebar_remove_source (
 				memo_shell_sidebar,
 				e_cal_get_source (client));
diff --git a/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-sidebar.c b/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-sidebar.c
index 4f870ec19a..8613b4eb0f 100644
--- a/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-sidebar.c
+++ b/modules/calendar/e-task-shell-sidebar.c
@@ -209,6 +209,13 @@ task_shell_sidebar_client_opened_cb (ETaskShellSidebar *task_shell_sidebar,
 			/* fall through */
 
 		default:
+			if (error->code != E_CALENDAR_STATUS_REPOSITORY_OFFLINE) {
+				e_alert_run_dialog_for_args (
+					GTK_WINDOW (shell_window),
+					"calendar:failed-open-tasks",
+					error->message, NULL);
+			}
+
 			e_task_shell_sidebar_remove_source (
 				task_shell_sidebar,
 				e_cal_get_source (client));
@@ -257,6 +264,11 @@ task_shell_sidebar_default_opened_cb (ETaskShellSidebar *task_shell_sidebar,
 			return;
 
 		default:
+			e_alert_run_dialog_for_args (
+				GTK_WINDOW (e_shell_view_get_shell_window (shell_view)),
+				"calendar:failed-open-tasks",
+				error->message, NULL);
+
 			e_task_shell_sidebar_remove_source (
 				task_shell_sidebar,
 				e_cal_get_source (client));