diff --git a/i18n/en.json b/i18n/en.json
index e9448d979d..1a8891cb85 100644
--- a/i18n/en.json
+++ b/i18n/en.json
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@
 	"flow-topic-notification-subscribe-description": "{{GENDER:$1|You}} will receive notifications on all activities on this topic.",
 	"flow-board-notification-subscribe-title": "{{GENDER:$1|You're}} subscribed to this discussion board!",
 	"flow-board-notification-subscribe-description": "{{GENDER:$1|You}} will get a notification when a new topic is created on this board.",
+	"flow-error-allowcreation-no-usedb": "allowCreation requires $wgContentHandlerUseDB to be true",
+	"flow-error-allowcreation-already-exists": "Page already exists, but was required not to",
+	"flow-error-allowcreation-flow-create-board": "User does not have the \"{{int:right-flow-create-board}}\" permission",
 	"flow-error-http": "An error occurred while contacting the server.",
 	"flow-error-other": "An unexpected error occurred.",
 	"flow-error-external": "An error occurred.<br />The error message received was: $1",
diff --git a/i18n/qqq.json b/i18n/qqq.json
index 4f381bbc49..f90cb63322 100644
--- a/i18n/qqq.json
+++ b/i18n/qqq.json
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@
 	"flow-topic-notification-subscribe-description": "Description text for the overlay when a topic is added to watchlist.",
 	"flow-board-notification-subscribe-title": "Title text for the overlay when a board is added to watchlist.",
 	"flow-board-notification-subscribe-description": "Description text for the overlay when a board is added to watchlist.",
+	"flow-error-allowcreation-no-usedb": "Internal error when allowCreation is used and $wgContentHandlerUseDB is not set to true",
+	"flow-error-allowcreation-already-exists": "Internal error when allowCreation is called with $mustNotExist true, but the page does already exist",
+	"flow-error-allowcreation-flow-create-board": "Internal error when allowCreation is called and user does not have flow-create-board",
 	"flow-error-http": "Used as error message on HTTP error.",
 	"flow-error-other": "Used as generic error message.",
 	"flow-error-external": "Uses as error message. Parameters:\n* $1 - error message\nSee also:\n* {{msg-mw|Flow-error-external-multi}}",
diff --git a/includes/Api/ApiFlow.php b/includes/Api/ApiFlow.php
index 6ff81e9152..cdc96ca39a 100644
--- a/includes/Api/ApiFlow.php
+++ b/includes/Api/ApiFlow.php
@@ -107,8 +107,9 @@ protected function getPage( $params ) {
 			// just check for permissions, nothing else to do. if the commit
 			// is successful the OccupationListener will see the new revision
 			// and put the flow board in place.
-			if ( !$controller->allowCreation( $page, $this->getUser() ) ) {
-				$this->dieUsage( 'Page provided does not have Flow enabled', 'invalid-page' );
+			$status = $controller->allowCreation( $page, $this->getUser() );
+			if ( !$status->isGood() ) {
+				$this->dieUsage( "Page provided does not have Flow enabled and allowCreation failed with: " . $status->getMessage()->parse(), 'invalid-page' );
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/includes/Import/Importer.php b/includes/Import/Importer.php
index 7fc35e4723..a28848aa7c 100644
--- a/includes/Import/Importer.php
+++ b/includes/Import/Importer.php
@@ -526,10 +526,15 @@ public function import( PageImportState $state ) {
 		$isNew = $state->boardWorkflow->isNew();
 		$state->logger->debug( 'Workflow isNew: ' . var_export( $isNew, true ) );
 		if ( $isNew ) {
-			$this->occupationController->allowCreation(
+			$allowCreationStatus = $this->occupationController->allowCreation(
 				$destinationTitle,
-				$this->occupationController->getTalkpageManager()
+				$this->occupationController->getTalkpageManager(),
+				/* $mustNotExist = */ true
 			);
+			if ( !$allowCreationStatus->isGood() ) {
+				throw new ImportException( "allowCreation failed to allow the import destination, with the following error:\n" . $allowCreationStatus->getWikiText() );
+			}
+
 			$status = $this->occupationController->ensureFlowRevision(
 				new Article( $destinationTitle ),
 				$state->boardWorkflow
diff --git a/includes/Specials/SpecialEnableFlow.php b/includes/Specials/SpecialEnableFlow.php
index e89282d65a..7eaa358c14 100644
--- a/includes/Specials/SpecialEnableFlow.php
+++ b/includes/Specials/SpecialEnableFlow.php
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ public function onSubmit( array $data ) {
 			return Status::newFatal( 'flow-special-enableflow-board-already-exists', $page );
 		}
 
-		if ( !$this->occupationController->allowCreation( $title, $this->getUser(), false ) ) {
+		$allowCreationStatus = $this->occupationController->allowCreation( $title, $this->getUser(), false );
+		if ( !$allowCreationStatus->isGood() ) {
 			return Status::newFatal( 'flow-special-enableflow-board-creation-not-allowed', $page );
 		}
 
diff --git a/includes/TalkpageManager.php b/includes/TalkpageManager.php
index 079542b21d..fed52a7fb8 100644
--- a/includes/TalkpageManager.php
+++ b/includes/TalkpageManager.php
@@ -30,10 +30,13 @@ public function ensureFlowRevision( Article $title, Workflow $workflow );
 	/**
 	 * @param Title $title
 	 * @param User $user
-	 * @return bool Returns true when the provided user has the rights to
-	 *  convert $title from whatever it is now to a flow board.
+	 * @param bool $mustNotExist Whether the page is required to not exist; defaults to
+	 *   true.
+	 * @return Status Returns successful status when the provided user has the rights to
+	 *  convert $title from whatever it is now to a flow board; otherwise, specifies
+	 *  the error.
 	 */
-	public function allowCreation( Title $title, User $user );
+	public function allowCreation( Title $title, User $user, $mustNotExist = true );
 
 	/**
 	 * Gives a user object used to manage talk pages
@@ -169,7 +172,9 @@ public function ensureFlowRevision( Article $article, Workflow $workflow ) {
 	 * @param User $user User who wants to create a board
 	 * @param bool $mustNotExist Whether the page is required to not exist; defaults to
 	 *   true.
-	 * @return bool
+	 * @return Status Returns successful status when the provided user has the rights to
+	 *  convert $title from whatever it is now to a flow board; otherwise, specifies
+	 *  the error.
 	 */
 	public function allowCreation( Title $title, User $user, $mustNotExist = true ) {
 		global $wgContentHandlerUseDB;
@@ -177,19 +182,24 @@ public function allowCreation( Title $title, User $user, $mustNotExist = true )
 		// Arbitrary pages can only be enabled when content handler
 		// can store that content model in the database.
 		if ( !$wgContentHandlerUseDB ) {
-			return false;
+			return Status::newFatal( 'flow-error-allowcreation-no-usedb' );
 		}
 
 		// Only allow converting a non-existent page to flow
-		if ( $mustNotExist && $title->exists() ) {
-			return false;
+		if ( $mustNotExist ) {
+			// Make sure existence status is up to date
+			$title->getArticleID( Title::GAID_FOR_UPDATE );
+
+			if ( $title->exists() ) {
+				return Status::newFatal( 'flow-error-allowcreation-already-exists' );
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Gate this on the flow-create-board right, essentially giving
 		// wiki communities control over if flow board creation is allowed
 		// to everyone or just a select few.
 		if ( !$user->isAllowedAll( 'flow-create-board' ) ) {
-			return false;
+			return Status::newFatal( 'flow-error-allowcreation-flow-create-board' );
 		}
 
 		/*
@@ -199,7 +209,7 @@ public function allowCreation( Title $title, User $user, $mustNotExist = true )
 		 */
 		$this->allowCreation[] = $title->getPrefixedDBkey();
 
-		return true;
+		return Status::newGood();
 	}
 
 	/**