diff --git a/src/main/java/org/nrg/xnat/turbine/modules/actions/RequestAccess.java b/src/main/java/org/nrg/xnat/turbine/modules/actions/RequestAccess.java
index 602fb4c09e27a5e43ce62782eaa29b57086b7c37..5971519d384b9242ed607b2f5deebb6dfc9bec77 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/nrg/xnat/turbine/modules/actions/RequestAccess.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/nrg/xnat/turbine/modules/actions/RequestAccess.java
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ public class RequestAccess extends SecureAction {
         String from = XDAT.getSiteConfigPreferences().getAdminEmail();
         String subject = TurbineUtils.GetSystemName() + " Access Request for " + project.getName();
 
+        data.setMessage("Access request sent.");
+
         try {
 			XDAT.getMailService().sendHtmlMessage(from, to, null, bcc, subject, message);
         } catch (Exception exception) {
@@ -99,10 +101,10 @@ public class RequestAccess extends SecureAction {
             }
             if (successfulSends == 0) {
                 logger.error("Unable to send mail", exception);
+                data.setMessage("No project owners have emails which could receive the access request. Please contact the system administrator for additional assistance.");
             }
         }
 
-        data.setMessage("Access request sent.");
         data.setScreenTemplate("Index.vm");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/webapp/xnat-templates/screens/Index.vm b/src/main/webapp/xnat-templates/screens/Index.vm
index e2ed210c971241742bd3b68897fb84779807f09e..92190d5400f471322cb49b63b617ebae5ac6e44f 100644
--- a/src/main/webapp/xnat-templates/screens/Index.vm
+++ b/src/main/webapp/xnat-templates/screens/Index.vm
@@ -12,7 +12,13 @@
     $!template.setLayoutTemplate($siteConfig.getProperty("siteHomeLayout","/Index.vm"))
 #end
 #if ($data.message)
-<div class="note">$data.message</div><br>
+<div class="note" id="messageToDisplay">$data.message</div><br>
+<script>
+    var messageToDisplay = "$data.message".toLowerCase();
+    if (messageToDisplay.indexOf('no project owners have emails which could receive the access request') > -1) {
+        $('#messageToDisplay').removeClass('note').addClass('error');
+    }
+</script>
 #end
 
 #if(0 < $par_count)