diff --git a/ui/src/CurrentUser.ts b/ui/src/CurrentUser.ts
index 6eeea03..59d5a55 100644
--- a/ui/src/CurrentUser.ts
+++ b/ui/src/CurrentUser.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const tokenKey = 'gotify-login-key';
 export class CurrentUser {
     private tokenCache: string | null = null;
     private reconnectTimeoutId: number | null = null;
-    private readonly reconnectTime: number = 3000;
+    private reconnectTime = 7500;
     @observable
     public loggedIn = false;
     @observable
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export class CurrentUser {
     @observable
     public user: IUser = {name: 'unknown', admin: false, id: -1};
     @observable
-    public hasNetwork = true;
+    public connectionErrorMessage: string | null = null;
 
     public constructor(private readonly snack: SnackReporter) {}
 
@@ -87,16 +87,24 @@ export class CurrentUser {
             .then((passThrough) => {
                 this.user = passThrough.data;
                 this.loggedIn = true;
-                this.hasNetwork = true;
+                this.connectionErrorMessage = null;
+                this.reconnectTime = 7500;
                 return passThrough;
             })
             .catch((error: AxiosError) => {
                 if (!error || !error.response) {
-                    this.lostNetwork();
+                    this.connectionError('No network connection or server unavailable.');
                     return Promise.reject(error);
                 }
 
-                this.hasNetwork = true;
+                if (error.response.status >= 500) {
+                    this.connectionError(
+                        `${error.response.statusText} (code: ${error.response.status}).`
+                    );
+                    return Promise.reject(error);
+                }
+
+                this.connectionErrorMessage = null;
 
                 if (error.response.status >= 400 && error.response.status < 500) {
                     this.logout();
@@ -135,8 +143,8 @@ export class CurrentUser {
         });
     };
 
-    private lostNetwork = () => {
-        this.hasNetwork = false;
+    private connectionError = (message: string) => {
+        this.connectionErrorMessage = message;
         if (this.reconnectTimeoutId !== null) {
             window.clearTimeout(this.reconnectTimeoutId);
         }
@@ -144,5 +152,6 @@ export class CurrentUser {
             () => this.tryReconnect(true),
             this.reconnectTime
         );
+        this.reconnectTime = Math.min(this.reconnectTime * 2, 120000);
     };
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/common/NetworkLostBanner.tsx b/ui/src/common/ConnectionErrorBanner.tsx
similarity index 77%
rename from ui/src/common/NetworkLostBanner.tsx
rename to ui/src/common/ConnectionErrorBanner.tsx
index 11a73d8..71b21e5 100644
--- a/ui/src/common/NetworkLostBanner.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/common/ConnectionErrorBanner.tsx
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ import React from 'react';
 import Button from '@material-ui/core/Button';
 import Typography from '@material-ui/core/Typography';
 
-interface NetworkLostBannerProps {
+interface ConnectionErrorBannerProps {
     height: number;
     retry: () => void;
+    message: string;
 }
 
-export const NetworkLostBanner = ({height, retry}: NetworkLostBannerProps) => {
+export const ConnectionErrorBanner = ({height, retry, message}: ConnectionErrorBannerProps) => {
     return (
         <div
             style={{
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ export const NetworkLostBanner = ({height, retry}: NetworkLostBannerProps) => {
                 position: 'relative',
             }}>
             <Typography align="center" variant="h6" style={{lineHeight: `${height}px`}}>
-                No network connection.{' '}
+                {message}{' '}
                 <Button variant="outlined" onClick={retry}>
                     Retry
                 </Button>
diff --git a/ui/src/layout/Layout.tsx b/ui/src/layout/Layout.tsx
index 98765eb..7fdf906 100644
--- a/ui/src/layout/Layout.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/layout/Layout.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import Users from '../user/Users';
 import {observer} from 'mobx-react';
 import {observable} from 'mobx';
 import {inject, Stores} from '../inject';
-import {NetworkLostBanner} from '../common/NetworkLostBanner';
+import {ConnectionErrorBanner} from '../common/ConnectionErrorBanner';
 import {IVersion} from '../types';
 
 const styles = (theme: Theme) => ({
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ class Layout extends React.Component<
                 authenticating,
                 user: {name, admin},
                 logout,
-                hasNetwork,
                 tryReconnect,
+                connectionErrorMessage,
             },
         } = this.props;
         const theme = themeMap[currentTheme];
@@ -98,13 +98,17 @@ class Layout extends React.Component<
             <MuiThemeProvider theme={theme}>
                 <HashRouter>
                     <div>
-                        {hasNetwork ? null : (
-                            <NetworkLostBanner height={64} retry={() => tryReconnect()} />
+                        {!connectionErrorMessage ? null : (
+                            <ConnectionErrorBanner
+                                height={64}
+                                retry={() => tryReconnect()}
+                                message={connectionErrorMessage}
+                            />
                         )}
                         <div style={{display: 'flex'}}>
                             <CssBaseline />
                             <Header
-                                style={{top: hasNetwork ? 0 : 64}}
+                                style={{top: !connectionErrorMessage ? 0 : 64}}
                                 admin={admin}
                                 name={name}
                                 version={version}
diff --git a/ui/src/reactions.ts b/ui/src/reactions.ts
index 7be1a8b..25857c9 100644
--- a/ui/src/reactions.ts
+++ b/ui/src/reactions.ts
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ export const registerReactions = (stores: StoreMapping) => {
     );
 
     reaction(
-        () => stores.currentUser.hasNetwork,
-        (hasNetwork) => {
-            if (hasNetwork) {
+        () => stores.currentUser.connectionErrorMessage,
+        (connectionErrorMessage) => {
+            if (!connectionErrorMessage) {
                 clearAll();
                 loadAll();
             }
diff --git a/ui/src/user/Login.tsx b/ui/src/user/Login.tsx
index cb20ad4..f55be9a 100644
--- a/ui/src/user/Login.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/user/Login.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class Login extends Component<Stores<'currentUser'>> {
                                 size="large"
                                 className="login"
                                 color="primary"
-                                disabled={!this.props.currentUser.hasNetwork}
+                                disabled={!!this.props.currentUser.connectionErrorMessage}
                                 style={{marginTop: 15, marginBottom: 5}}
                                 onClick={this.login}>
                                 Login