diff --git a/static/js/directives/ui/setup-trigger-dialog.js b/static/js/directives/ui/setup-trigger-dialog.js
index 3077f09af..6696d6cdd 100644
--- a/static/js/directives/ui/setup-trigger-dialog.js
+++ b/static/js/directives/ui/setup-trigger-dialog.js
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ angular.module('quay').directive('setupTriggerDialog', function () {
         var errorHandler = ApiService.errorDisplay('Cannot activate build trigger', function(resp) {
           $scope.hide();
           $scope.canceled({'trigger': $scope.trigger});
+
+          return ApiService.getErrorMessage(resp) +
+            '\n\nThis usually means that you do not have admin access on the repository.';
         });
 
         ApiService.activateBuildTrigger(data, params).then(function(resp) {
diff --git a/static/js/services/api-service.js b/static/js/services/api-service.js
index 08af7d6ff..5952463fd 100644
--- a/static/js/services/api-service.js
+++ b/static/js/services/api-service.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * callbacks. Any method defined on the server is exposed here as an equivalent method. Also
  * defines some helper functions for working with API responses.
  */
-angular.module('quay').factory('ApiService', ['Restangular', '$q', function(Restangular, $q) {
+angular.module('quay').factory('ApiService', ['Restangular', '$q', 'UtilService', function(Restangular, $q, UtilService) {
   var apiService = {};
 
   var getResource = function(path, opt_background) {
@@ -313,6 +313,8 @@ angular.module('quay').factory('ApiService', ['Restangular', '$q', function(Rest
         }
       }
 
+      message = UtilService.stringToHTML(message);
+
       bootbox.dialog({
         "message": message,
         "title": defaultMessage,
diff --git a/static/js/services/util-service.js b/static/js/services/util-service.js
index bf9edbbc4..9e33a659f 100644
--- a/static/js/services/util-service.js
+++ b/static/js/services/util-service.js
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ angular.module('quay').factory('UtilService', ['$sanitize', function($sanitize)
     return adjusted;
   };
 
+  utilService.stringToHTML = function(text) {
+    text = utilService.escapeHtmlString(text);
+    text = text.replace(/\n/g, '<br>');
+    return text;
+  };
+
   utilService.getRestUrl = function(args) {
     var url = '';
     for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; ++i) {