diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 30e2676..5464199 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     "lint:js": "./node_modules/.bin/eslint --ext .js,.jsx .",
     "test": "npm run lint && npm run jest"
   },
-  "version": "1.2.5",
+  "version": "1.2.6",
   "dependencies": {
     "auth0-js": "^6.8.4",
     "config": "^3.2.0",
diff --git a/src/reducers/challenge.js b/src/reducers/challenge.js
index db11663..b73a6c9 100644
--- a/src/reducers/challenge.js
+++ b/src/reducers/challenge.js
@@ -52,10 +52,18 @@ function onGetDetailsInit(state, action) {
 function onGetDetailsDone(state, action) {
   if (action.error) {
     logger.error('Failed to get challenge details!', action.payload);
-    fireErrorMessage(
-      'ERROR: Failed to load the challenge',
-      'Please, try again a bit later',
-    );
+    if (action.payload.message === 'Forbidden') {
+      fireErrorMessage(
+        'ERROR: Private challenge',
+        'This challenge is only available to those in a private group.'
+          + ' It looks like you do not have access to this challenge.',
+      );
+    } else {
+      fireErrorMessage(
+        'ERROR: Failed to load the challenge',
+        'Please, try again a bit later',
+      );
+    }
     return {
       ...state,
       fetchChallengeFailure: action.error,
diff --git a/src/services/challenges.js b/src/services/challenges.js
index 38ae8c5..b08b075 100644
--- a/src/services/challenges.js
+++ b/src/services/challenges.js
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ async function checkErrorV5(res) {
     if (res.status >= 500) {
       setErrorIcon(ERROR_ICON_TYPES.API, '/challenges', res.statusText);
     }
-    throw new Error(res.statusText);
+    throw new Error((!res.statusText && res.status === 403) ? 'Forbidden' : res.statusText);
   }
   const jsonRes = (await res.json());
   if (jsonRes.message) {