diff --git a/control.php b/control.php
index cbae881..2262786 100644
--- a/control.php
+++ b/control.php
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ $action = $_REQUEST['action'];
 if ($action != "login") {
 
     // check the session, but don't redirect if the check fails
-    if (checkSessionAndRedirect(false)) {
+    $ret = checkSessionAndRedirect(false);
+    if ($ret === true) {
         //get around the problem with search
         if (strcmp($_REQUEST['fForStandardSearch'], "yes") == 0) {
             $action = "standardSearch";
@@ -77,6 +78,9 @@ if ($action != "login") {
             if ((strlen($redirect) > 1)) {
                 $url = $url . "&redirect=" . $redirect;
             }
+            if (PEAR::isError($ret)) {
+                $url = $url . "&errorMessage=" .  urlencode($ret->getMessage());
+            }
             redirect($url);
             exit(0);
         }
diff --git a/lib/session/control.inc b/lib/session/control.inc
index 2255de9..3f89dec 100644
--- a/lib/session/control.inc
+++ b/lib/session/control.inc
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ function checkSessionAndRedirect($bRedirect, $bDownload = false) {
     // verification failed
     $default->log->debug("checkSession:: session check failed");
     if (empty($bRedirect)) {
-        return false;
+        return $sessionStatus;
     }
 
     $sErrorMessage = "";