diff --git a/ayanova/src/api/errorhandler.js b/ayanova/src/api/errorhandler.js
index 8a4dd191..9c83d3de 100644
--- a/ayanova/src/api/errorhandler.js
+++ b/ayanova/src/api/errorhandler.js
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ var devModeShowErrors = false;
 
 //TODO: tie this into form error display somehow so that form can control whether to show particular error or not
 //i.e. dealwitherror(msg,formerrordisplayfunction,bool shouldshowError)
-function dealWithError(msg) {
+function dealWithError(msg, displayToUser) {
   msg = locale.translateString(msg);
   store.commit("logItem", msg);
-  if (devModeShowErrors) {
+  if (displayToUser || devModeShowErrors) {
     alert("~" + msg);
   }
 }
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ export default {
     }
     dealWithError(msg);
   },
-  handleFormError(err) {
+  handleFormError(err, displayToUser) {
     //called inside forms when things go wrong but are handled
     if (err instanceof Error && err.message) {
-      dealWithError(err.message);
+      dealWithError(err.message, displayToUser);
     } else {
-      dealWithError(err.toString());
+      dealWithError(err.toString(), displayToUser);
     }
   }
 };
diff --git a/ayanova/src/views/inventory-widget-edit.vue b/ayanova/src/views/inventory-widget-edit.vue
index c1d4e172..4504bd90 100644
--- a/ayanova/src/views/inventory-widget-edit.vue
+++ b/ayanova/src/views/inventory-widget-edit.vue
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ export default {
           this.obj = res.data;
         })
         .catch(function(error) {
-          that.$gzHandleFormError(error);
+          that.$gzHandleFormError(error, true);
         });
     },
     submit() {
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ export default {
             }
           })
           .catch(function(error) {
-            that.$gzHandleFormError(error);
+            that.$gzHandleFormError(error, true);
           });
       } else {
         //say something so the user knows there is an issue