diff --git a/src/views/HomeView.vue b/src/views/HomeView.vue
index b938062a..e00bf618 100644
--- a/src/views/HomeView.vue
+++ b/src/views/HomeView.vue
@@ -524,15 +524,18 @@ export default class HomeView extends Vue {
         hours,
       );
 
-      if (this.isGiveCreationError(result)) {
+      if (
+        result.type === "error" ||
+        this.isGiveCreationError(result.response)
+      ) {
         const errorMessage = this.getGiveCreationErrorMessage(result);
-        console.log("Error with give result:", result);
+        console.log("Error with give creation result:", result);
         this.$notify(
           {
             group: "alert",
             type: "danger",
             title: "Error",
-            text: errorMessage || "There was an error recording the give.",
+            text: errorMessage || "There was an error creating the give.",
           },
           -1,
         );
@@ -549,7 +552,7 @@ export default class HomeView extends Vue {
       }
       // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
     } catch (error: any) {
-      console.log("Error with give caught:", error);
+      console.log("Error with give recordation caught:", error);
       const message =
         error.userMessage ||
         error.response?.data?.error?.message ||
@@ -568,14 +571,26 @@ export default class HomeView extends Vue {
 
   // Helper functions for readability
 
+  /**
+   * @param result response "data" from the server
+   * @returns true if the result indicates an error
+   */
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
   isGiveCreationError(result: any) {
     return result.status !== 201 || result.data?.error;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @param result direct response from the server (potentially with embedded "data")
+   * @returns best guess at an error message
+   */
   // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
   getGiveCreationErrorMessage(result: any) {
-    return result.data?.error?.message;
+    return (
+      result.error?.userMessage ||
+      result.error?.error ||
+      result.data?.error?.message
+    );
   }
 }
 </script>