diff --git a/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini b/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
index 77e7f2b7ded..803630997b4 100644
--- a/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
+++ b/options/locale/locale_en-US.ini
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ step2 = Step 2:
 
 error = Error
 error404 = The page you are trying to reach either <strong>does not exist</strong> or <strong>you are not authorized</strong> to view it.
+go_back = Go Back
 
 never = Never
 unknown = Unknown
@@ -1014,6 +1015,10 @@ blame.ignore_revs = Ignoring revisions in <a href="%s">.git-blame-ignore-revs</a
 blame.ignore_revs.failed = Failed to ignore revisions in <a href="%s">.git-blame-ignore-revs</a>.
 author_search_tooltip = Shows a maximum of 30 users
 
+tree_path_not_found_commit = Path %[1]s doesn't exist in commit %[2]s
+tree_path_not_found_branch = Path %[1]s doesn't exist in branch %[2]s
+tree_path_not_found_tag = Path %[1]s doesn't exist in tag %[2]s
+
 transfer.accept = Accept Transfer
 transfer.accept_desc =  Transfer to "%s"
 transfer.reject = Reject Transfer
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/blame.go b/routers/web/repo/blame.go
index e4506a857e7..1f1cca897ef 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/blame.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/blame.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func RefBlame(ctx *context.Context) {
 	// Get current entry user currently looking at.
 	entry, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+		HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", err)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/editor.go b/routers/web/repo/editor.go
index 9d9fee3a77c..1ad091b70fd 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/editor.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/editor.go
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func editFile(ctx *context.Context, isNewFile bool) {
 	if !isNewFile {
 		entry, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 		if err != nil {
-			ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("GetTreeEntryByPath", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+			HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", err)
 			return
 		}
 
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/helper.go b/routers/web/repo/helper.go
index f8cdefdc8ef..a98abe566f8 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/helper.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/helper.go
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@
 package repo
 
 import (
+	"net/url"
 	"sort"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/git"
 )
 
 func MakeSelfOnTop(doer *user.User, users []*user.User) []*user.User {
@@ -20,3 +23,22 @@ func MakeSelfOnTop(doer *user.User, users []*user.User) []*user.User {
 	}
 	return users
 }
+
+func HandleGitError(ctx *context.Context, msg string, err error) {
+	if git.IsErrNotExist(err) {
+		refType := ""
+		switch {
+		case ctx.Repo.IsViewBranch:
+			refType = "branch"
+		case ctx.Repo.IsViewTag:
+			refType = "tag"
+		case ctx.Repo.IsViewCommit:
+			refType = "commit"
+		}
+		ctx.Data["NotFoundPrompt"] = ctx.Locale.Tr("repo.tree_path_not_found_"+refType, ctx.Repo.TreePath, url.PathEscape(ctx.Repo.RefName))
+		ctx.Data["NotFoundGoBackURL"] = ctx.Repo.RepoLink + "/src/" + refType + "/" + url.PathEscape(ctx.Repo.RefName)
+		ctx.NotFound(msg, err)
+	} else {
+		ctx.ServerError(msg, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/routers/web/repo/view.go b/routers/web/repo/view.go
index 91c00b049e9..0b1b0644098 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/view.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/view.go
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ func checkCitationFile(ctx *context.Context, entry *git.TreeEntry) {
 	}
 	tree, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.SubTree(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("Repo.Commit.SubTree", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+		HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.SubTree", err)
 		return
 	}
 	allEntries, err := tree.ListEntries()
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ func LastCommit(ctx *context.Context) {
 func renderDirectoryFiles(ctx *context.Context, timeout time.Duration) git.Entries {
 	tree, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.SubTree(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("Repo.Commit.SubTree", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+		HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.SubTree", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -792,12 +792,12 @@ func renderDirectoryFiles(ctx *context.Context, timeout time.Duration) git.Entri
 	// Get current entry user currently looking at.
 	entry, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+		HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	if !entry.IsDir() {
-		ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+		HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -963,7 +963,7 @@ func renderCode(ctx *context.Context) {
 	// Get current entry user currently looking at.
 	entry, err := ctx.Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath(ctx.Repo.TreePath)
 	if err != nil {
-		ctx.NotFoundOrServerError("Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", git.IsErrNotExist, err)
+		HandleGitError(ctx, "Repo.Commit.GetTreeEntryByPath", err)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/templates/status/404.tmpl b/templates/status/404.tmpl
index 8e63b305228..74bb8762bd3 100644
--- a/templates/status/404.tmpl
+++ b/templates/status/404.tmpl
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 	{{if .IsRepo}}{{template "repo/header" .}}{{end}}
 	<div class="ui container center">
 		<p style="margin-top: 100px"><img src="{{AssetUrlPrefix}}/img/404.png" alt="404"></p>
+		<p>{{if .NotFoundPrompt}}{{.NotFoundPrompt}}{{else}}{{ctx.Locale.Tr "error404" | Safe}}{{end}}</p>
+		{{if .NotFoundGoBackURL}}<a class="ui button green" href="{{.NotFoundGoBackURL}}">{{ctx.Locale.Tr "go_back"}}</a>{{end}}
+
 		<div class="divider"></div>
 		<br>
-		<p>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "error404" | Safe}}</p>
 		{{if .ShowFooterVersion}}<p>{{ctx.Locale.Tr "admin.config.app_ver"}}: {{AppVer}}</p>{{end}}
 	</div>
 </div>