diff --git a/src/imageloader.js b/src/imageloader.js
index 198882b6..ac36d47a 100644
--- a/src/imageloader.js
+++ b/src/imageloader.js
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ ImageJob.prototype = {
                     self.image.src = url;
                 },
                 error: function(request) {
-                    self.errorMsg = "Image load aborted - XHR error";
+                    self.errorMsg = "Image load aborted - XHR error: Ajax returned " + request.status;
                     self.finish(false);
                 }
             });
diff --git a/src/openseadragon.js b/src/openseadragon.js
index 731a06b4..c06a9f56 100644
--- a/src/openseadragon.js
+++ b/src/openseadragon.js
@@ -2364,10 +2364,10 @@ function OpenSeadragon( options ){
                           protocol !== "https:" )) {
                         onSuccess( request );
                     } else {
-                        $.console.error( "AJAX request returned %d: %s", request.status, url );
-
                         if ( $.isFunction( onError ) ) {
                             onError( request );
+                        } else {
+                            $.console.error( "AJAX request returned %d: %s", request.status, url );
                         }
                     }
                 }