diff --git a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Bundle.properties b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Bundle.properties
index cbeb1a8438..62a15c1517 100644
--- a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Bundle.properties
+++ b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Bundle.properties
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ Server.connect.exception.msg=Failed to connect to Solr server\:
 Server.openCore.exception.msg=Core open requested, but server not yet running
 Server.openCore.exception.cantOpen.msg=Could not open Core
 Server.openCore.exception.cantOpen.msg2=Could not open Core
+Server.openCore.exception.cantOpenForCase.msg=Could not create keyword search index for case {0}
 Server.request.exception.exception.msg=Could not issue Solr request
 Server.commit.exception.msg=Could not commit index
 Server.addDoc.exception.msg=Could not add document to index via update handler\: {0}
diff --git a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Server.java b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Server.java
index 20e3f178ee..50d5e962bd 100644
--- a/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Server.java
+++ b/KeywordSearch/src/org/sleuthkit/autopsy/keywordsearch/Server.java
@@ -626,7 +626,12 @@ public class Server {
 
         Case currentCase = Case.getCurrentCase();
 
-        currentCore = openCore(currentCase);
+        try {
+            currentCore = openCore(currentCase);
+        } catch (KeywordSearchModuleException ex) {
+            MessageNotifyUtil.Notify.error(NbBundle.getMessage(Server.class, "Server.openCore.exception.cantOpenForCase.msg", currentCase.getName()), ex.getCause().getMessage());
+            throw ex;
+        }
         serverAction.putValue(CORE_EVT, CORE_EVT_STATES.STARTED);
     }