diff --git a/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/search_view.js b/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/search_view.js
index 52f9101..5144650 100644
--- a/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/search_view.js
+++ b/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/search_view.js
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@
         }
       },
       error: function(model, response, options){
-        this.searchResults.clear();
-        var err = "Error " + JSON.stringify(response) +
-          " on span query " + query.url();
+        searchView.searchResults.reset();
+        var err = "Error " + JSON.stringify(response, null, 2) +
+          " on span query " + queryResults.url();
         console.log(err);
         alert(err);
         searchView.searchInProgress = false;
diff --git a/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/span_widget.js b/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/span_widget.js
index bd981ab..ad5ea07 100644
--- a/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/span_widget.js
+++ b/htrace-webapp/src/main/web/app/span_widget.js
@@ -239,7 +239,11 @@
       callback: function() {
         $.when(widget.span.reifyParents()).done(function (result) {
           console.log("reifyParents: result was '" + result + "'");
-          widget.manager.searchResultsView.render();
+          if (result != "") {
+            alert(result);
+          } else {
+            widget.manager.searchResultsView.render();
+          }
         });
       },
     });
@@ -256,7 +260,11 @@
       callback: function() {
         $.when(widget.span.reifyChildren()).done(function (result) {
           console.log("reifyChildren: result was '" + result + "'");
-          widget.manager.searchResultsView.render();
+          if (result != "") {
+            alert(result);
+          } else {
+            widget.manager.searchResultsView.render();
+          }
         });
       },
     });