diff --git a/wcs/wf/wscall.py b/wcs/wf/wscall.py
index ede4c98ae..2bc02df61 100644
--- a/wcs/wf/wscall.py
+++ b/wcs/wf/wscall.py
@@ -399,8 +399,8 @@ class WebserviceCallStatusItem(WorkflowStatusItem):
             if exc_info:
                 summary = traceback.format_exception_only(exc_info[0], exc_info[1])[-1]
             else:
-                summary = ''
-                if response:
+                summary = '<no response>'
+                if response is not None:
                     summary = '%s %s' % (response.status_code, response.reason)
                 try:
                     raise Exception(summary)