diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/auth.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/auth.go
index e056a1f..8030b09 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/auth.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/auth.go
@@ -40,36 +40,43 @@ type RequestAuthSession struct {
 //  {
 //      // AuthRealm-specific information
 //  }
-func (h *RequestAuthSession) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (h *RequestAuthSession) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
+	logger := util.GetLogger(req.Context())
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 	var body api.RequestAuthSessionRequest
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
 	}
-	log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+	logger.WithFields(log.Fields{
 		"realm_id": body.RealmID,
 		"user_id":  body.UserID,
 	}).Print("Incoming auth session request")
 
 	if err := body.Check(); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, err.Error(), 400}
+		logger.WithError(err).Info("Failed Check")
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, err.Error())
 	}
 
 	realm, err := h.Db.LoadAuthRealm(body.RealmID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Unknown RealmID", 400}
+		logger.WithError(err).Info("Failed to LoadAuthRealm")
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Unknown RealmID")
 	}
 
 	response := realm.RequestAuthSession(body.UserID, body.Config)
 	if response == nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Failed to request auth session", 500}
+		logger.WithField("body", body).Error("Failed to RequestAuthSession")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Failed to request auth session")
 	}
 
 	metrics.IncrementAuthSession(realm.Type())
 
-	return response, nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: response,
+	}
 }
 
 // RemoveAuthSession represents an HTTP handler capable of processing /admin/removeAuthSession requests.
@@ -90,36 +97,41 @@ type RemoveAuthSession struct {
 // Response:
 //  HTTP/1.1 200 OK
 //  {}
-func (h *RemoveAuthSession) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (h *RemoveAuthSession) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
+	logger := util.GetLogger(req.Context())
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 	var body struct {
 		RealmID string
 		UserID  string
 	}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
 	}
-	log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+	logger.WithFields(log.Fields{
 		"realm_id": body.RealmID,
 		"user_id":  body.UserID,
 	}).Print("Incoming remove auth session request")
 
 	if body.UserID == "" || body.RealmID == "" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, `Must supply a "UserID", a "RealmID"`, 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, `Must supply a "UserID", a "RealmID"`)
 	}
 
 	_, err := h.Db.LoadAuthRealm(body.RealmID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Unknown RealmID", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Unknown RealmID")
 	}
 
 	if err := h.Db.RemoveAuthSession(body.RealmID, body.UserID); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to remove auth session", 500}
+		logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to RemoveAuthSession")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Failed to remove auth session")
 	}
 
-	return []byte(`{}`), nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct{}{},
+	}
 }
 
 // RealmRedirect represents an HTTP handler which can process incoming redirects for auth realms.
@@ -186,39 +198,44 @@ type ConfigureAuthRealm struct {
 //          // New auth realm config information
 //      },
 //  }
-func (h *ConfigureAuthRealm) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (h *ConfigureAuthRealm) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
+	logger := util.GetLogger(req.Context())
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 	var body api.ConfigureAuthRealmRequest
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
 	}
 
 	if err := body.Check(); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, err.Error(), 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, err.Error())
 	}
 
 	realm, err := types.CreateAuthRealm(body.ID, body.Type, body.Config)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing config JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing config JSON")
 	}
 
 	if err = realm.Register(); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error registering auth realm", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error registering auth realm")
 	}
 
 	oldRealm, err := h.Db.StoreAuthRealm(realm)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error storing realm", 500}
+		logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to StoreAuthRealm")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Error storing realm")
 	}
 
-	return &struct {
-		ID        string
-		Type      string
-		OldConfig types.AuthRealm
-		NewConfig types.AuthRealm
-	}{body.ID, body.Type, oldRealm, realm}, nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct {
+			ID        string
+			Type      string
+			OldConfig types.AuthRealm
+			NewConfig types.AuthRealm
+		}{body.ID, body.Type, oldRealm, realm},
+	}
 }
 
 // GetSession represents an HTTP handler capable of processing /admin/getSession requests.
@@ -252,35 +269,43 @@ type GetSession struct {
 //  {
 //      "Authenticated": false
 //  }
-func (h *GetSession) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (h *GetSession) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
+	logger := util.GetLogger(req.Context())
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 	var body struct {
 		RealmID string
 		UserID  string
 	}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
 	}
 
 	if body.RealmID == "" || body.UserID == "" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, `Must supply a "RealmID" and "UserID"`, 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, `Must supply a "RealmID" and "UserID"`)
 	}
 
 	session, err := h.Db.LoadAuthSessionByUser(body.RealmID, body.UserID)
 	if err != nil && err != sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, `Failed to load session`, 500}
+		logger.WithError(err).WithField("body", body).Error("Failed to LoadAuthSessionByUser")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, `Failed to load session`)
 	}
 	if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return &struct {
-			Authenticated bool
-		}{false}, nil
+		return util.JSONResponse{
+			Code: 200,
+			JSON: struct {
+				Authenticated bool
+			}{false},
+		}
 	}
 
-	return &struct {
-		ID            string
-		Authenticated bool
-		Info          interface{}
-	}{session.ID(), session.Authenticated(), session.Info()}, nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct {
+			ID            string
+			Authenticated bool
+			Info          interface{}
+		}{session.ID(), session.Authenticated(), session.Info()},
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/client.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/client.go
index 5327ae8..3e00a20 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/client.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/client.go
@@ -39,27 +39,31 @@ type ConfigureClient struct {
 //         // The new api.ClientConfig
 //       }
 //  }
-func (s *ConfigureClient) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (s *ConfigureClient) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 
 	var body api.ClientConfig
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
 	}
 
 	if err := body.Check(); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing client config", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing client config")
 	}
 
 	oldClient, err := s.Clients.Update(body)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error storing token", 500}
+		util.GetLogger(req.Context()).WithError(err).WithField("body", body).Error("Failed to Clients.Update")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Error storing token")
 	}
 
-	return &struct {
-		OldClient api.ClientConfig
-		NewClient api.ClientConfig
-	}{oldClient, body}, nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct {
+			OldClient api.ClientConfig
+			NewClient api.ClientConfig
+		}{oldClient, body},
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/heartbeat.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/heartbeat.go
index 484814b..c110139 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/heartbeat.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/heartbeat.go
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ type Heartbeat struct{}
 // Response:
 //  HTTP/1.1 200 OK
 //  {}
-func (*Heartbeat) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
-	return &struct{}{}, nil
+func (*Heartbeat) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct{}{},
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/service.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/service.go
index 6cd3fd4..d088d63 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/service.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/api/handlers/service.go
@@ -76,16 +76,17 @@ func (s *ConfigureService) getMutexForServiceID(serviceID string) *sync.Mutex {
 //          // new service-specific config information
 //      },
 //  }
-func (s *ConfigureService) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (s *ConfigureService) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 
 	service, httpErr := s.createService(req)
 	if httpErr != nil {
-		return nil, httpErr
+		return *httpErr
 	}
-	log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+	logger := util.GetLogger(req.Context())
+	logger.WithFields(log.Fields{
 		"service_id":      service.ServiceID(),
 		"service_type":    service.ServiceType(),
 		"service_user_id": service.ServiceUserID(),
@@ -98,32 +99,34 @@ func (s *ConfigureService) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *u
 
 	old, err := s.db.LoadService(service.ServiceID())
 	if err != nil && err != sql.ErrNoRows {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error loading old service", 500}
+		logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to LoadService")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Error loading old service")
 	}
 
 	client, err := s.clients.Client(service.ServiceUserID())
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Unknown matrix client", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Unknown matrix client")
 	}
 
 	if err := checkClientForService(service, client); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, err.Error(), 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, err.Error())
 	}
 
 	if err = service.Register(old, client); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to register service: " + err.Error(), 500}
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Failed to register service: "+err.Error())
 	}
 
 	oldService, err := s.db.StoreService(service)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error storing service", 500}
+		logger.WithError(err).Error("Failed to StoreService")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, "Error storing service")
 	}
 
 	// Start any polling NOW because they may decide to stop it in PostRegister, and we want to make
 	// sure we'll actually stop.
 	if _, ok := service.(types.Poller); ok {
 		if err := polling.StartPolling(service); err != nil {
-			log.WithFields(log.Fields{
+			logger.WithFields(log.Fields{
 				"service_id": service.ServiceID(),
 				log.ErrorKey: err,
 			}).Error("Failed to start poll loop.")
@@ -133,27 +136,33 @@ func (s *ConfigureService) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *u
 	service.PostRegister(old)
 	metrics.IncrementConfigureService(service.ServiceType())
 
-	return &struct {
-		ID        string
-		Type      string
-		OldConfig types.Service
-		NewConfig types.Service
-	}{service.ServiceID(), service.ServiceType(), oldService, service}, nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct {
+			ID        string
+			Type      string
+			OldConfig types.Service
+			NewConfig types.Service
+		}{service.ServiceID(), service.ServiceType(), oldService, service},
+	}
 }
 
-func (s *ConfigureService) createService(req *http.Request) (types.Service, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (s *ConfigureService) createService(req *http.Request) (types.Service, *util.JSONResponse) {
 	var body api.ConfigureServiceRequest
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		res := util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
+		return nil, &res
 	}
 
 	if err := body.Check(); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, err.Error(), 400}
+		res := util.MessageResponse(400, err.Error())
+		return nil, &res
 	}
 
 	service, err := types.CreateService(body.ID, body.Type, body.UserID, body.Config)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing config JSON", 400}
+		res := util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing config JSON")
+		return nil, &res
 	}
 	return service, nil
 }
@@ -182,34 +191,38 @@ type GetService struct {
 //          // service-specific config information
 //      }
 //  }
-func (h *GetService) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) (interface{}, *util.HTTPError) {
+func (h *GetService) OnIncomingRequest(req *http.Request) util.JSONResponse {
 	if req.Method != "POST" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Unsupported Method", 405}
+		return util.MessageResponse(405, "Unsupported Method")
 	}
 	var body struct {
 		ID string
 	}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Error parsing request JSON", 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, "Error parsing request JSON")
 	}
 
 	if body.ID == "" {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, `Must supply a "ID"`, 400}
+		return util.MessageResponse(400, `Must supply a "ID"`)
 	}
 
 	srv, err := h.Db.LoadService(body.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
-			return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, `Service not found`, 404}
+			return util.MessageResponse(404, `Service not found`)
 		}
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, `Failed to load service`, 500}
+		util.GetLogger(req.Context()).WithError(err).Error("Failed to LoadService")
+		return util.MessageResponse(500, `Failed to load service`)
 	}
 
-	return &struct {
-		ID     string
-		Type   string
-		Config types.Service
-	}{srv.ServiceID(), srv.ServiceType(), srv}, nil
+	return util.JSONResponse{
+		Code: 200,
+		JSON: struct {
+			ID     string
+			Type   string
+			Config types.Service
+		}{srv.ServiceID(), srv.ServiceType(), srv},
+	}
 }
 
 func checkClientForService(service types.Service, client *gomatrix.Client) error {
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/github/webhook/webhook.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/github/webhook/webhook.go
index ed510d4..c7cb5de 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/github/webhook/webhook.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/github/webhook/webhook.go
@@ -21,14 +21,15 @@ import (
 // matrix message to send, along with parsed repo information.
 // The secretToken, if supplied, will be used to verify the request is from
 // Github. If it isn't, an error is returned.
-func OnReceiveRequest(r *http.Request, secretToken string) (string, *github.Repository, *gomatrix.HTMLMessage, *util.HTTPError) {
+func OnReceiveRequest(r *http.Request, secretToken string) (string, *github.Repository, *gomatrix.HTMLMessage, *util.JSONResponse) {
 	// Verify the HMAC signature if NEB was configured with a secret token
 	eventType := r.Header.Get("X-GitHub-Event")
 	signatureSHA1 := r.Header.Get("X-Hub-Signature")
 	content, err := ioutil.ReadAll(r.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.WithError(err).Print("Failed to read Github webhook body")
-		return "", nil, nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Failed to parse body", 400}
+		resErr := util.MessageResponse(400, "Failed to parse body")
+		return "", nil, nil, &resErr
 	}
 	// Verify request if a secret token has been supplied.
 	if secretToken != "" {
@@ -38,14 +39,16 @@ func OnReceiveRequest(r *http.Request, secretToken string) (string, *github.Repo
 		if err != nil {
 			log.WithError(err).WithField("X-Hub-Signature", sigHex).Print(
 				"Failed to decode signature as hex.")
-			return "", nil, nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Failed to decode signature", 400}
+			resErr := util.MessageResponse(400, "Failed to decode signature")
+			return "", nil, nil, &resErr
 		}
 
 		if !checkMAC([]byte(content), sigBytes, []byte(secretToken)) {
 			log.WithFields(log.Fields{
 				"X-Hub-Signature": signatureSHA1,
 			}).Print("Received Github event which failed MAC check.")
-			return "", nil, nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Bad signature", 403}
+			resErr := util.MessageResponse(403, "Bad signature")
+			return "", nil, nil, &resErr
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -58,13 +61,15 @@ func OnReceiveRequest(r *http.Request, secretToken string) (string, *github.Repo
 		// Github will send a "ping" event when the webhook is first created. We need
 		// to return a 200 in order for the webhook to be marked as "up" (this doesn't
 		// affect delivery, just the tick/cross status flag).
-		return "", nil, nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "pong", 200}
+		res := util.MessageResponse(200, "pong")
+		return "", nil, nil, &res
 	}
 
 	htmlStr, repo, refinedType, err := parseGithubEvent(eventType, content)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.WithError(err).Print("Failed to parse github event")
-		return "", nil, nil, &util.HTTPError{nil, "Failed to parse github event", 500}
+		resErr := util.MessageResponse(500, "Failed to parse github event")
+		return "", nil, nil, &resErr
 	}
 
 	msg := gomatrix.GetHTMLMessage("m.notice", htmlStr)
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/jira.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/jira.go
index d4e8735..647c9d9 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/jira.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/jira.go
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ func (s *Service) Expansions(cli *gomatrix.Client) []types.Expansion {
 func (s *Service) OnReceiveWebhook(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request, cli *gomatrix.Client) {
 	eventProjectKey, event, httpErr := webhook.OnReceiveRequest(req)
 	if httpErr != nil {
-		log.WithError(httpErr).Print("Failed to handle JIRA webhook")
-		w.WriteHeader(500)
+		log.Print("Failed to handle JIRA webhook")
+		w.WriteHeader(httpErr.Code)
 		return
 	}
 	// grab base jira url
diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/webhook/webhook.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/webhook/webhook.go
index 4aa45a9..ff15f7f 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/webhook/webhook.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/go-neb/services/jira/webhook/webhook.go
@@ -65,19 +65,19 @@ func RegisterHook(jrealm *jira.Realm, projects []string, userID, webhookEndpoint
 		logger.WithError(err).Print("No JIRA client exists")
 		return err // no OAuth token on this JIRA endpoint
 	}
-	wh, httpErr := getWebhook(cli, webhookEndpointURL)
-	if httpErr != nil {
-		if httpErr.Code != 403 {
-			logger.WithError(httpErr).Print("Failed to GET webhook")
-			return httpErr
+	wh, forbidden, err := getWebhook(cli, webhookEndpointURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		if !forbidden {
+			logger.WithError(err).Print("Failed to GET webhook")
+			return err
 		}
 		// User is not a JIRA admin (cannot GET webhooks)
 		// The only way this is going to end well for this request is if all the projects
 		// are PUBLIC. That is, they can be accessed directly without an access token.
-		httpErr = checkProjectsArePublic(jrealm, projects, userID)
-		if httpErr != nil {
-			logger.WithError(httpErr).Print("Failed to assert that all projects are public")
-			return httpErr
+		err = checkProjectsArePublic(jrealm, projects, userID)
+		if err != nil {
+			logger.WithError(err).Print("Failed to assert that all projects are public")
+			return err
 		}
 
 		// All projects that wish to be tracked are public, but the user cannot create
@@ -101,17 +101,19 @@ func RegisterHook(jrealm *jira.Realm, projects []string, userID, webhookEndpoint
 
 // OnReceiveRequest is called when JIRA hits NEB with an update.
 // Returns the project key and webhook event, or an error.
-func OnReceiveRequest(req *http.Request) (string, *Event, *util.HTTPError) {
+func OnReceiveRequest(req *http.Request) (string, *Event, *util.JSONResponse) {
 	// extract the JIRA webhook event JSON
 	defer req.Body.Close()
 	var whe Event
 	err := json.NewDecoder(req.Body).Decode(&whe)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to parse request JSON", 400}
+		resErr := util.MessageResponse(400, "Failed to parse request JSON")
+		return "", nil, &resErr
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to parse JIRA URL", 400}
+		resErr := util.MessageResponse(400, "Failed to parse JIRA URL")
+		return "", nil, &resErr
 	}
 	projKey := strings.Split(whe.Issue.Key, "-")[0]
 	projKey = strings.ToUpper(projKey)
@@ -153,22 +155,18 @@ func createWebhook(jrealm *jira.Realm, webhookEndpointURL, userID string) error
 	return err
 }
 
-func getWebhook(cli *gojira.Client, webhookEndpointURL string) (*jiraWebhook, *util.HTTPError) {
+func getWebhook(cli *gojira.Client, webhookEndpointURL string) (*jiraWebhook, bool, error) {
 	req, err := cli.NewRequest("GET", "rest/webhooks/1.0/webhook", nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to prepare webhook request", 500}
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("Failed to prepare webhook request")
 	}
 	var webhookList []jiraWebhook
 	res, err := cli.Do(req, &webhookList)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to query webhooks", 502}
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("Failed to query webhooks")
 	}
 	if res.StatusCode < 200 || res.StatusCode >= 300 {
-		return nil, &util.HTTPError{
-			err,
-			fmt.Sprintf("Querying webhook returned HTTP %d", res.StatusCode),
-			403,
-		}
+		return nil, true, fmt.Errorf("Querying webhook returned HTTP %d", res.StatusCode)
 	}
 	log.Print("Retrieved ", len(webhookList), " webhooks")
 	var nebWH *jiraWebhook
@@ -178,26 +176,26 @@ func getWebhook(cli *gojira.Client, webhookEndpointURL string) (*jiraWebhook, *u
 			break
 		}
 	}
-	return nebWH, nil
+	return nebWH, false, nil
 }
 
-func checkProjectsArePublic(jrealm *jira.Realm, projects []string, userID string) *util.HTTPError {
+func checkProjectsArePublic(jrealm *jira.Realm, projects []string, userID string) error {
 	publicCli, err := jrealm.JIRAClient("", true)
 	if err != nil {
-		return &util.HTTPError{err, "Cannot create public JIRA client", 500}
+		return fmt.Errorf("Cannot create public JIRA client")
 	}
 	for _, projectKey := range projects {
 		// check you can query this project with a public client
 		req, err := publicCli.NewRequest("GET", "rest/api/2/project/"+projectKey, nil)
 		if err != nil {
-			return &util.HTTPError{err, "Failed to create project URL", 500}
+			return fmt.Errorf("Failed to create project URL for project %s", projectKey)
 		}
 		res, err := publicCli.Do(req, nil)
 		if err != nil {
-			return &util.HTTPError{err, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to query project %s", projectKey), 500}
+			return fmt.Errorf("Failed to query project %s", projectKey)
 		}
 		if res.StatusCode < 200 || res.StatusCode >= 300 {
-			return &util.HTTPError{err, fmt.Sprintf("Project %s is not public. (HTTP %d)", projectKey, res.StatusCode), 403}
+			return fmt.Errorf("Project %s is not public. (HTTP %d)", projectKey, res.StatusCode)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil