diff --git a/src/app/execution/txExecution.js b/src/app/execution/txExecution.js
index 66b9b9564c..b910189ad9 100644
--- a/src/app/execution/txExecution.js
+++ b/src/app/execution/txExecution.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 'use strict'
+var yo = require('yo-yo')
 
 module.exports = {
   /**
@@ -29,5 +30,33 @@ module.exports = {
       // see universaldapp.js line 660 => 700 to check possible values of txResult (error case)
       callback(error, txResult)
     })
+  },
+
+  /**
+    * check if the vm has errored
+    *
+    * @param {Object} txResult    - the value returned by the vm
+    * @return {Object} -  { error: true/false, message: DOMNode }
+    */
+  checkVMError: function (txResult) {
+    var ret = {
+      error: false,
+      message: ''
+    }
+    if (!txResult.result.vm.exceptionError) {
+      return ret
+    }
+    var error = yo`<span> VM error: ${txResult.result.vm.exceptionError}</span>`
+    var msg
+    if (txResult.result.vm.exceptionError === 'invalid opcode') {
+      msg = yo`<ul><li>The constructor should be payable if you send it value.</li>
+                  <li>The execution might have thrown.</li></ul>`
+      ret.error = true
+    } else if (txResult.result.vm.exceptionError === 'out of gas') {
+      msg = yo`<div>The transaction ran out of gas. Please increase the Gas Limit.</div>`
+      ret.error = true
+    }
+    ret.message = yo`<div>${error} ${msg} Debug the transaction to get more information</div>`
+    return ret
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/tabs/run-tab.js b/src/app/tabs/run-tab.js
index 6bdef60b09..7963b11d0f 100644
--- a/src/app/tabs/run-tab.js
+++ b/src/app/tabs/run-tab.js
@@ -304,8 +304,13 @@ function contractDropdown (appAPI, appEvents, instanceContainer) {
         txExecution.createContract(data, appAPI.udapp(), (error, txResult) => {
           if (!error) {
             var isVM = appAPI.executionContext().isVM()
-            if (isVM && alertVMErrorIfAny(txResult)) return
-
+            if (isVM) {
+              var vmError = txExecution.checkVMError(txResult)
+              if (vmError.error) {
+                modalDialogCustom.alert(vmError.message)
+                return
+              }
+            }
             noInstancesText.style.display = 'none'
             var address = isVM ? txResult.result.createdAddress : txResult.result.contractAddress
             instanceContainer.appendChild(appAPI.udapp().renderInstance(contract, address, selectContractNames.value))
@@ -319,22 +324,6 @@ function contractDropdown (appAPI, appEvents, instanceContainer) {
     })
   }
 
-  function alertVMErrorIfAny (txResult) {
-    if (!txResult.result.vm.exceptionError) {
-      return null
-    }
-    var error = yo`<span> VM error: ${txResult.result.vm.exceptionError}</span>`
-    var msg
-    if (txResult.result.vm.exceptionError === 'invalid opcode') {
-      msg = yo`<ul><li>The constructor should be payable if you send it value.</li>
-                  <li>The execution might have thrown.</li></ul>`
-    } else if (txResult.result.vm.exceptionError === 'out of gas') {
-      msg = yo`<div>The transaction ran out of gas. Please increase the Gas Limit.</div>`
-    }
-    modalDialogCustom.alert(yo`<div>${error} ${msg} Debug the transaction to get more information</div>`)
-    return error + msg
-  }
-
   function loadFromAddress (appAPI) {
     noInstancesText.style.display = 'none'
     var contractNames = document.querySelector(`.${css.contractNames.classNames[0]}`)
diff --git a/src/universal-dapp.js b/src/universal-dapp.js
index a9e498af59..420c7e1e04 100644
--- a/src/universal-dapp.js
+++ b/src/universal-dapp.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* global alert */
+/* global */
 'use strict'
 
 var $ = require('jquery')
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ var txFormat = require('./app/execution/txFormat')
 var txHelper = require('./app/execution/txHelper')
 var txExecution = require('./app/execution/txExecution')
 var helper = require('./lib/helper')
+var modalDialogCustom = require('./app/ui/modal-dialog-custom')
 
 // copy to copyToClipboard
 const copy = require('clipboard-copy')
@@ -309,17 +310,25 @@ UniversalDApp.prototype.getCallButton = function (args) {
       if (!error) {
         txExecution.callFunction(args.address, data, args.funABI, self, (error, txResult) => {
           if (!error) {
+            var isVM = self.executionContext.isVM()
+            if (isVM) {
+              var vmError = txExecution.checkVMError(txResult)
+              if (vmError.error) {
+                modalDialogCustom.alert(vmError.message)
+                return
+              }
+            }
             if (lookupOnly) {
               txFormat.decodeResponse(self.executionContext.isVM() ? txResult.result.vm.return : ethJSUtil.toBuffer(txResult.result), args.funABI, (error, decoded) => {
                 $outputOverride.html(error ? 'error' + error : decoded)
               })
             }
           } else {
-            alert(error)
+            modalDialogCustom.alert(error)
           }
         })
       } else {
-        alert(error)
+        modalDialogCustom.alert(error)
       }
     })
   }
@@ -436,6 +445,17 @@ UniversalDApp.prototype.runTx = function (args, cb) {
         if (!args.useCall) {
           self.event.trigger('transactionExecuted', [error, args.to, args.data, false, result])
         }
+        if (error) {
+          if (typeof (error) !== 'string') {
+            if (error.message) {
+              error = error.message
+            } else {
+              try {
+                error = 'error: ' + JSON.stringify(error)
+              } catch (e) {}
+            }
+          }
+        }
         callback(error, result)
       })
     }