diff --git a/irc/accounts.go b/irc/accounts.go
index b75e34b6..67e3d0c5 100644
--- a/irc/accounts.go
+++ b/irc/accounts.go
@@ -1183,6 +1183,10 @@ func (am *AccountManager) VHostSet(account string, vhost string) (result VHostIn
 func (am *AccountManager) VHostRequest(account string, vhost string, cooldown time.Duration) (result VHostInfo, err error) {
 	munger := func(input VHostInfo) (output VHostInfo, err error) {
 		output = input
+		if input.Forbidden {
+			err = errVhostsForbidden
+			return
+		}
 		// you can update your existing request, but if you were approved or rejected,
 		// you can't spam a new request
 		if output.RequestedVHost == "" {
@@ -1204,7 +1208,10 @@ func (am *AccountManager) VHostRequest(account string, vhost string, cooldown ti
 func (am *AccountManager) VHostTake(account string, vhost string, cooldown time.Duration) (result VHostInfo, err error) {
 	munger := func(input VHostInfo) (output VHostInfo, err error) {
 		output = input
-
+		if input.Forbidden {
+			err = errVhostsForbidden
+			return
+		}
 		// if you have a request pending, you can cancel it using take;
 		// otherwise, you're subject to the same throttling as if you were making a request
 		if output.RequestedVHost == "" {
diff --git a/irc/errors.go b/irc/errors.go
index 95690527..a3a32c6e 100644
--- a/irc/errors.go
+++ b/irc/errors.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ var (
 	errBanned                         = errors.New("IP or nickmask banned")
 	errInvalidParams                  = utils.ErrInvalidParams
 	errNoVhost                        = errors.New(`You do not have an approved vhost`)
+	errVhostsForbidden                = errors.New(`An administrator has denied you the ability to use vhosts`)
 	errLimitExceeded                  = errors.New("Limit exceeded")
 	errNoop                           = errors.New("Action was a no-op")
 	errCASFailed                      = errors.New("Compare-and-swap update of database value failed")
diff --git a/irc/hostserv.go b/irc/hostserv.go
index 6424910b..0a1371a9 100644
--- a/irc/hostserv.go
+++ b/irc/hostserv.go
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ func hsRequestHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []s
 	if err != nil {
 		if throttled, ok := err.(*vhostThrottleExceeded); ok {
 			hsNotice(rb, fmt.Sprintf(client.t("You must wait an additional %v before making another request"), throttled.timeRemaining))
+		} else if err == errVhostsForbidden {
+			hsNotice(rb, client.t("An administrator has denied you the ability to use vhosts"))
 		} else {
 			hsNotice(rb, client.t("An error occurred"))
 		}
@@ -408,6 +410,8 @@ func hsTakeHandler(server *Server, client *Client, command string, params []stri
 	if err != nil {
 		if throttled, ok := err.(*vhostThrottleExceeded); ok {
 			hsNotice(rb, fmt.Sprintf(client.t("You must wait an additional %v before taking a vhost"), throttled.timeRemaining))
+		} else if err == errVhostsForbidden {
+			hsNotice(rb, client.t("An administrator has denied you the ability to use vhosts"))
 		} else {
 			hsNotice(rb, client.t("An error occurred"))
 		}