diff --git a/src/empathy.c b/src/empathy.c
index f22d69b..b3521c1 100644
--- a/src/empathy.c
+++ b/src/empathy.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <gtk/gtk.h>
 #include <gdk/gdkx.h>
 #include <unique/unique.h>
+#include <gtk/gtk.h>// for dialog
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBCHAMPLAIN
 #include <clutter-gtk/clutter-gtk.h>
@@ -256,9 +257,15 @@ account_manager_ready_cb (GObject *source_object,
   EmpathyConnectivity *connectivity;
   TpConnectionPresenceType presence;
   GSettings *gsettings = g_settings_new (EMPATHY_PREFS_SCHEMA);
+  GtkWidget *dialog;
 
   if (!tp_account_manager_prepare_finish (manager, result, &error))
     {
+      dialog = gtk_message_dialog_new (NULL, GTK_DIALOG_MODAL, GTK_MESSAGE_ERROR,
+    		      GTK_BUTTONS_OK, _("The Account Manager could not be contacted."
+    		    		  "\nThe error given was: \" %s \""),error->message);
+      gtk_dialog_run (GTK_DIALOG (dialog));
+      gtk_widget_destroy (dialog);
       DEBUG ("Failed to prepare account manager: %s", error->message);
       g_error_free (error);
       return;
