diff --git a/app/controllers/status.js b/app/controllers/status.js
index 01b51b99..6652359e 100644
--- a/app/controllers/status.js
+++ b/app/controllers/status.js
@@ -45,8 +45,7 @@ exports.show = function(req, res, next) {
   }
 };
 
-exports.sync = function(req, res, next) {
+exports.sync = function(req, res) {
   if (req.syncInfo)
     res.jsonp(req.syncInfo);
-  next();
 };
diff --git a/lib/HistoricSync.js b/lib/HistoricSync.js
index 2735f44f..f9d3d0a9 100644
--- a/lib/HistoricSync.js
+++ b/lib/HistoricSync.js
@@ -274,11 +274,13 @@ function spec() {
           });
         }
 
-        if (!err)
-          sync();
-        else {
+        if (err) {
+          self.syncInfo = util._extend(self.syncInfo, { error: err.message });
           return next(err, 0);
         }
+        else {
+          sync();
+        }
     });
   };