diff --git a/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js b/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js
index 96e721f7ca..46c1113a1d 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js
+++ b/src/components/structures/MatrixChat.js
@@ -996,10 +996,20 @@ export default React.createClass({
                     }, (err) => {
                         modal.close();
                         console.error("Failed to leave room " + roomId + " " + err);
+                        let title = _t("Failed to leave room");
+                        let message = _t("Server may be unavailable, overloaded, or you hit a bug.");
+                        if (err.errcode == 'M_CANNOT_LEAVE_SERVER_NOTICE_ROOM') {
+                            title = _t("Can't leave Server Notices room");
+                            message = _t(
+                                "This room is used for important messages from the Homeserver, " +
+                                "so you cannot leave it.",
+                            );
+                        } else if (err && err.message) {
+                            message = err.message;
+                        }
                         Modal.createTrackedDialog('Failed to leave room', '', ErrorDialog, {
-                            title: _t("Failed to leave room"),
-                            description: (err && err.message ? err.message :
-                                _t("Server may be unavailable, overloaded, or you hit a bug.")),
+                            title: title,
+                            description: message,
                         });
                     });
                 }
diff --git a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
index 41f1780425..07f9f6b8ec 100644
--- a/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
+++ b/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
@@ -949,6 +949,8 @@
     "This room is not public. You will not be able to rejoin without an invite.": "This room is not public. You will not be able to rejoin without an invite.",
     "Are you sure you want to leave the room '%(roomName)s'?": "Are you sure you want to leave the room '%(roomName)s'?",
     "Failed to leave room": "Failed to leave room",
+    "Can't leave Server Notices room": "Can't leave Server Notices room",
+    "This room is used for important messages from the Homeserver, so you cannot leave it.": "This room is used for important messages from the Homeserver, so you cannot leave it.",
     "Signed Out": "Signed Out",
     "For security, this session has been signed out. Please sign in again.": "For security, this session has been signed out. Please sign in again.",
     "Terms and Conditions": "Terms and Conditions",