diff --git a/datasette/templates/query.html b/datasette/templates/query.html
index 633e53b4..8b6ad138 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/query.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/query.html
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@
 
 <form class="sql" action="{{ urls.database(database) }}{% if canned_query %}/{{ canned_query }}{% endif %}" method="{% if canned_write %}post{% else %}get{% endif %}">
     <h3>Custom SQL query{% if display_rows %} returning {% if truncated %}more than {% endif %}{{ "{:,}".format(display_rows|length) }} row{% if display_rows|length == 1 %}{% else %}s{% endif %}{% endif %}{% if not query_error %} <span class="show-hide-sql">{% if hide_sql %}(<a href="{{ path_with_removed_args(request, {'_hide_sql': '1'}) }}">show</a>){% else %}(<a href="{{ path_with_added_args(request, {'_hide_sql': '1'}) }}">hide</a>){% endif %}</span>{% endif %}</h3>
-    {% if query_error %}
-        <p class="message-error">{{ query_error }}</p>
+    {% if error %}
+        <p class="message-error">{{ error }}</p>
     {% endif %}
     {% if not hide_sql %}
         {% if editable and allow_execute_sql %}
diff --git a/tests/test_html.py b/tests/test_html.py
index fd60cdc9..5fca76c3 100644
--- a/tests/test_html.py
+++ b/tests/test_html.py
@@ -1402,6 +1402,16 @@ def test_zero_results(app_client, path):
     assert 1 == len(soup.select("p.zero-results"))
 
 
+def test_query_error(app_client):
+    response = app_client.get("/fixtures?sql=select+*+from+notatable")
+    html = response.text
+    assert '<p class="message-error">no such table: notatable</p>' in html
+    assert (
+        '<textarea id="sql-editor" name="sql">select * from notatable</textarea>'
+        in html
+    )
+
+
 def test_config_template_debug_on():
     with make_app_client(config={"template_debug": True}) as client:
         response = client.get("/fixtures/facetable?_context=1")