diff --git a/app/client/lib/autoform.coffee b/app/client/lib/autoform.coffee
index b32cf08..de2112b 100644
--- a/app/client/lib/autoform.coffee
+++ b/app/client/lib/autoform.coffee
@@ -1,32 +1,33 @@
 # show errors from method-update schema check
 AutoForm.addHooks null,
   beginSubmit: ->
     AutoForm.templateInstanceForForm(@formId)._stickyErrors = {}
   onError: (formType, error) ->
     form = @
     try
       fieldErrors = JSON.parse(error.details)
     catch e
       # don't care
     finally
       if error.reason is "validationErrorQuestionInUse"
         AutoForm.resetForm form.formId
         throwError error
         return
-      else if !fieldErrors? or fieldErrors.length is 0 
+      else if (!fieldErrors? or fieldErrors.length is 0) and !error.invalidKeys?
         throwError error
         return
-    JSON.parse(error.details).forEach (e) ->
-      form.addStickyValidationError(e.name, e.type)
+    if fieldErrors?
+      fieldErrors.forEach (e) ->
+        form.addStickyValidationError(e.name, e.type)
 
 
 # Fix null array items
 # See https://github.com/aldeed/meteor-autoform/issues/840
 AutoForm.addHooks null,
   before: update: (doc) ->
     _.each doc.$set, (value, setter) ->
       if _.isArray(value)
         newValue = _.compact(value)
         doc.$set[setter] = newValue
       return
     doc
diff --git a/app/client/lib/errors.coffee b/app/client/lib/errors.coffee
index 49b99fc..5d8cb35 100644
--- a/app/client/lib/errors.coffee
+++ b/app/client/lib/errors.coffee
@@ -1,49 +1,51 @@
 Meteor.startup ->
   #http://stackoverflow.com/questions/951791/javascript-global-error-handling
   window.onerror = (msg, url, line, col, error) ->
     # Note that col & error are new to the HTML 5 spec and may not be
     # supported in every browser.  It worked for me in Chrome.
     extra = if !col then '' else ' column: ' + col
 
     throwError 'Error: ' + msg + '\n\nat: ' + url + '\n\nline: ' + line + extra
 
     #throw errors to console
     throw error
 
     # return true, so error alerts (like in older versions of
     # Internet Explorer) will be suppressed.
     return true
 
 @throwError = (error) ->
   if typeof error is "string"
     reason = error
   else
     reason = error.reason
+  if !reason? or reason.length is 0
+    reason = "unknown reason"
   if error.reason? and error.reason is "validationErrorQuestionInUse"
     swal {
       title: 'Error'
       html: true
       customClass: "text-left"
       text: """Error: This question is in use. Changing question type, codes, values or selection-mode is therefore not allowed. Your changes will be discarded.<br><br>
 You might:
 <ul>
 <li>Use a copy of the questionnaire (e.g. in a new study or for new patients)</li>
 <li>Remove all patients from the study and then change the code or value</li>
 <li>Rename/remove the column or values manually after the export</li>
 <li>Ask an administrator to make this change in the data base</li>
 </ul>"""
       type: 'error'
       showCancelButton: false
       confirmButtonText: 'OK'
     }
   else
     swal {
       title: 'Error'
       text: reason
       type: 'error'
       customClass: "text-left" if reason.length > 100
       showCancelButton: false
       confirmButtonText: 'OK'
     }
   return