diff --git a/extension/content/modules/Core.jsm b/extension/content/modules/Core.jsm
index 90c7355..caabba0 100644
--- a/extension/content/modules/Core.jsm
+++ b/extension/content/modules/Core.jsm
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function findByEasyKey(key, zotero) {
                     } else if (items.length > 1) {
                         return makeClientError(`${key} returned multiple items`);
                     } else {
-                        return makeClientError('search failed to return a single item');
+                        return makeClientError(`${key} had no results`);
                     }
                 });
             }
diff --git a/test/test.rb b/test/test.rb
index 1d9b872..f8d6170 100644
--- a/test/test.rb
+++ b/test/test.rb
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ def test_items_easykey_ambiguous
     assert_equal "doe:2005ambiguous returned multiple items", resp.body
   end
 
+  def test_items_easykey_bad
+    resp = @client.get(@item_url, {"easykey" => "doe:2005foobar"})
+    assert_equal 400, resp.status
+    assert_equal "doe:2005foobar had no results", resp.body
+  end
   def test_betterbibtexkey
     resp = @client.get(@item_url, {"betterbibtexkey" => "doe:2005first", "format" => "key"})
     assert_equal 200, resp.status