diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog for vega-view
 
+## 0.3.1.5
+
+Report that an error occurred when the embed option failed, which is
+better than the previous behavior (no plot would appear but no
+indication that something happened), but the message is pretty anodyne.
+
 ## 0.3.1.4
 
 Change the layout of the "directory with visualizations" page to move
diff --git a/app/Main.hs b/app/Main.hs
--- a/app/Main.hs
+++ b/app/Main.hs
@@ -611,6 +611,7 @@
   let cts = [ "function embed(path) { "
             , "var req = new XMLHttpRequest(); "
             , "req.addEventListener('load', embedSpec); "
+            , "req.addEventListener('error', embedSpec); "
             , "req.responseType = 'json'; "
             , "req.open('GET', path); "
             , "req.send(); "
@@ -637,7 +638,8 @@
             , "vdiv.setAttribute('class', 'vega-error'); "
             , "}); "
             , "} else { "
-            , "addText(div, 'Unable to load specification'); "
+            , "addText(div, 'There was an error when loading the specification. '); "
+            , "addText(div, 'Is the vega-view web server still running?'); "
             , "} "
             , "div.style.display = 'block';"
             , "} "
diff --git a/vega-view.cabal b/vega-view.cabal
--- a/vega-view.cabal
+++ b/vega-view.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:           vega-view
-version:        0.3.1.4
+version:        0.3.1.5
 synopsis:       Easily view Vega or Vega-Lite visualizations.
 description:    A web server that is used to view all the Vega and Vega-Lite
                 specifications in a directory, or sub-directory. It is similar