diff --git a/twitterwidgets.py b/twitterwidgets.py
index e9ebcf5..675b48b 100644
--- a/twitterwidgets.py
+++ b/twitterwidgets.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class TweetPane(gtk.ScrolledWindow):
 
         self.tab_label = CloseTabLabel(self.list_name)
 
-        self.error_message = gtk.Label('Failed to load tweet(s)')
+        self.message = gtk.Label('Loading...')
 
         # These handle determining which tweets are unread
         self.last_tweet_read = None
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class TweetPane(gtk.ScrolledWindow):
         viewport = gtk.Viewport()
 
         # Build us some labels...
-        tweet_box.pack_start(self.error_message)
+        tweet_box.pack_start(self.message)
 
         for i in range(0, self.num_entries):
             self.tweets.append(TweetBox())
@@ -77,16 +77,19 @@ class TweetPane(gtk.ScrolledWindow):
         self.set_policy(gtk.POLICY_NEVER, gtk.POLICY_ALWAYS)
         self.show_all()
 
-        self.error_message.hide()
         for tweet in self.tweets:
             tweet.hide()
 
 
     def update_window(self, statuses):
         if statuses is None:
-            self.error_message.show()
+            self.message.set_label('An error occurred while fetching data')
+            self.message.show()
             for i in range(0, self.num_entries):
                 self.tweets[i].hide()
+            return
+
+        self.message.hide()
 
         if self.updated_once is False:
             self.updated_once = True
@@ -113,6 +116,9 @@ class TweetPane(gtk.ScrolledWindow):
                 self.tweets[i].clear_status()
                 self.tweets[i].hide()
 
+        if len(statuses) == 0:
+            self.message.set_label('There is no data to display')
+
         try:
             self.latest_tweet = statuses[0].id
         except IndexError: