diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/tests.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/tests.py
index 0fc5a14c70..aac03d54ce 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/tests.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/tests.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class ViewsExceptionTestCase(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.response.status_code, 404)
 
     @patch('student.models.cc.User.from_django_user')
-    @patch('student.models.cc.User.active_threads')
+    @patch('student.models.cc.User.subscribed_threads')
     def test_user_followed_threads_exception(self, mock_threads, mock_from_django_user):
 
         # Mock the code that makes the HTTP requests to the cs_comment_service app
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
index f18ecb24e8..23b0e8e986 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
@@ -115,11 +115,8 @@ def inline_discussion(request, course_id, discussion_id):
         cc_user = cc.User.from_django_user(request.user)
         user_info = cc_user.to_dict()
     except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError):
-        # TODO (vshnayder): since none of this code seems to be aware of the fact that
-        # sometimes things go wrong, I suspect that the js client is also not
-        # checking for errors on request.  Check and fix as needed.
         log.error("Error loading inline discussion threads.")
-        raise Http404
+        raise
 
     annotated_content_info = utils.get_metadata_for_threads(course_id, threads, request.user, user_info)
 
@@ -180,7 +177,7 @@ def forum_form_discussion(request, course_id):
         return render_to_response('discussion/maintenance.html', {})
     except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError) as err:
         log.error("Error loading forum discussion threads: %s", str(err))
-        raise Http404
+        raise
 
     user = cc.User.from_django_user(request.user)
     user_info = user.to_dict()
@@ -247,7 +244,7 @@ def single_thread(request, course_id, discussion_id, thread_id):
         thread = cc.Thread.find(thread_id).retrieve(recursive=True, user_id=request.user.id)
     except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError):
         log.error("Error loading single thread.")
-        raise Http404
+        raise
 
     if request.is_ajax():
         courseware_context = get_courseware_context(thread, course)
@@ -272,7 +269,7 @@ def single_thread(request, course_id, discussion_id, thread_id):
             threads.append(thread.to_dict())
         except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError):
             log.error("Error loading single thread.")
-            raise Http404
+            raise
 
         course = get_course_with_access(request.user, course_id, 'load_forum')
 
@@ -370,7 +367,7 @@ def user_profile(request, course_id, user_id):
             }
 
             return render_to_response('discussion/user_profile.html', context)
-    except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError, User.DoesNotExist):
+    except User.DoesNotExist:
         raise Http404
 
 
@@ -413,5 +410,5 @@ def followed_threads(request, course_id, user_id):
             }
 
             return render_to_response('discussion/user_profile.html', context)
-    except (cc.utils.CommentClientError, cc.utils.CommentClientUnknownError, User.DoesNotExist):
+    except User.DoesNotExist:
         raise Http404
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/middleware.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/middleware.py
index b9efc1589e..7876631d9e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/middleware.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/middleware.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class AjaxExceptionMiddleware(object):
         """
         if isinstance(exception, CommentClientError) and request.is_ajax():
             try:
-                return JsonError(json.loads(exception.message))
+                return JsonError(json.loads(exception.message), 500)
             except ValueError:
-                return JsonError(exception.message)
+                return JsonError(exception.message, 500)
         return None
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_middleware.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_middleware.py
index ab9517c160..54fcbd3c58 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_middleware.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/tests/test_middleware.py
@@ -20,8 +20,14 @@ class AjaxExceptionTestCase(TestCase):
         self.request0.META['HTTP_X_REQUESTED_WITH'] = "SHADOWFAX"
 
     def test_process_exception(self):
-        self.assertIsInstance(self.a.process_exception(self.request1, self.exception1), middleware.JsonError)
-        self.assertIsInstance(self.a.process_exception(self.request1, self.exception2), middleware.JsonError)
+        response1 = self.a.process_exception(self.request1, self.exception1)
+        self.assertIsInstance(response1, middleware.JsonError)
+        self.assertEqual(500, response1.status_code)
+
+        response2 = self.a.process_exception(self.request1, self.exception2)
+        self.assertIsInstance(response2, middleware.JsonError)
+        self.assertEqual(500, response2.status_code)
+
         self.assertIsNone(self.a.process_exception(self.request1, self.exception0))
         self.assertIsNone(self.a.process_exception(self.request0, self.exception1))
         self.assertIsNone(self.a.process_exception(self.request0, self.exception0))