diff --git a/app/femr/business/services/system/UserService.java b/app/femr/business/services/system/UserService.java
index 5e9092567..def5c8949 100644
--- a/app/femr/business/services/system/UserService.java
+++ b/app/femr/business/services/system/UserService.java
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public ServiceResponse<UserItem> createUser(UserItem user, String password, int
             newUser = userRepository.createUser(newUser);
             response.setResponseObject(itemModelMapper.createUserItem(newUser));
         } catch (Exception ex) {
-            response.addError("", ex.getMessage());
+            response.addError("error creating user", ex.getMessage());
         }