diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/teams_tab_factory_spec.js b/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/teams_tab_factory_spec.js
index d41cfce9d5..de6b4e104b 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/teams_tab_factory_spec.js
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/teams_tab_factory_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'teams/js/teams_tab_factory',
+define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'teams/js/teams_tab_factory', 'teams/js/views/teams_tab',
         'common/js/spec_helpers/page_helpers', 'teams/js/spec_helpers/team_spec_helpers'],
-    function($, Backbone, TeamsTabFactory, PageHelpers, TeamSpecHelpers) {
+    function($, Backbone, TeamsTabFactory, TeamsTabView, PageHelpers, TeamSpecHelpers) {
         'use strict';
 
         describe("Teams Tab Factory", function() {
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'teams/js/teams_tab_factory',
 
             afterEach(function() {
                 Backbone.history.stop();
+                $(document).off('ajaxError', TeamsTabView.prototype.errorHandler);
             });
 
             it('can render the "Teams" tab', function() {
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/views/teams_tab_spec.js b/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/views/teams_tab_spec.js
index e9f58659dd..2f236433e1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/views/teams_tab_spec.js
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/spec/views/teams_tab_spec.js
@@ -56,7 +56,11 @@ define([
             spyOn(Logger, 'log');
         });
 
-        afterEach(Backbone.history.stop);
+        afterEach(function() {
+              Backbone.history.stop();
+              $(document).off('ajaxError', TeamsTabView.prototype.errorHandler);
+          }
+        );
 
         describe('Navigation', function () {
             it('does not render breadcrumbs for the top level tabs', function() {
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/views/teams_tab.js b/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/views/teams_tab.js
index 7aadb4fed2..69e5241213 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/views/teams_tab.js
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/static/teams/js/views/teams_tab.js
@@ -159,14 +159,7 @@
                 start: function() {
                     Backbone.history.start();
 
-                    $(document).ajaxError(function (event, xhr) {
-                        if (xhr.status === 401) {
-                            TeamUtils.showMessage(gettext("Your request could not be completed. Reload the page and try again."));
-                        }
-                        else if (xhr.status === 500) {
-                            TeamUtils.showMessage(gettext("Your request could not be completed due to a server problem. Reload the page and try again. If the issue persists, click the Help tab to report the problem."));
-                        }
-                    });
+                    $(document).ajaxError(this.errorHandler);
 
                     // Navigate to the default page if there is no history:
                     // 1. If the user belongs to at least one team, jump to the "My Teams" page
@@ -180,6 +173,20 @@
                     }
                 },
 
+                errorHandler: function(event, xhr) {
+                    if (xhr.status === 401) {
+                        TeamUtils.showMessage(gettext(
+                            "Your request could not be completed. Reload the page and try again."
+                        ));
+                    }
+                    else if (xhr.status === 500) {
+                        TeamUtils.showMessage(gettext(
+                            "Your request could not be completed due to a server problem. Reload the page" +
+                            " and try again. If the issue persists, click the Help tab to report the problem."
+                        ));
+                    }
+                },
+
                 render: function() {
                     this.mainView.setElement(this.$el).render();
                     TeamUtils.hideMessage();