diff --git a/src/authentic2/backends/ldap_backend.py b/src/authentic2/backends/ldap_backend.py
index 1c1c74cef..be6ed5c95 100644
--- a/src/authentic2/backends/ldap_backend.py
+++ b/src/authentic2/backends/ldap_backend.py
@@ -1471,8 +1471,12 @@ class LDAPBackend(object):
             return False, u'invalid credentials'
         except ldap.INVALID_DN_SYNTAX:
             return False, u'invalid dn syntax %s' % who
-        except (ldap.TIMEOUT, ldap.CONNECT_ERROR, ldap.SERVER_DOWN):
-            return False, u'ldap is down'
+        except ldap.CONNECT_ERROR:
+            return False, 'connection error'
+        except ldap.TIMEOUT:
+            return False, 'timeout'
+        except ldap.SERVER_DOWN:
+            return False, 'ldap is down'
 
     @classmethod
     def get_connection(cls, block, credentials=()):