diff --git a/horizon/dashboards/nova/instances_and_volumes/instances/tests.py b/horizon/dashboards/nova/instances_and_volumes/instances/tests.py
index 6bb8d702522..4f2fc2e46a7 100644
--- a/horizon/dashboards/nova/instances_and_volumes/instances/tests.py
+++ b/horizon/dashboards/nova/instances_and_volumes/instances/tests.py
@@ -211,9 +211,10 @@ def test_instance_log(self):
 
         url = reverse('horizon:nova:instances_and_volumes:instances:console',
                       args=[server.id])
-        tg = InstanceDetailTabs(self.request)
+        tg = InstanceDetailTabs(self.request, instance=server)
         qs = "?%s=%s" % (tg.param_name, tg.get_tab("log").get_id())
         res = self.client.get(url + qs)
+        self.assertNoMessages()
         self.assertIsInstance(res, http.HttpResponse)
         self.assertContains(res, CONSOLE_OUTPUT)
 
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ def test_instance_log_exception(self):
 
         url = reverse('horizon:nova:instances_and_volumes:instances:console',
                       args=[server.id])
-        tg = InstanceDetailTabs(self.request)
+        tg = InstanceDetailTabs(self.request, instance=server)
         qs = "?%s=%s" % (tg.param_name, tg.get_tab("log").get_id())
         res = self.client.get(url + qs)
         self.assertContains(res, "Unable to get log for")
diff --git a/horizon/tabs/base.py b/horizon/tabs/base.py
index 17a5a535af8..12ade198684 100644
--- a/horizon/tabs/base.py
+++ b/horizon/tabs/base.py
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ def __init__(self, request, **kwargs):
         self._tabs = SortedDict(tab_instances)
         if not self._set_active_tab():
             self.tabs_not_available()
+        # Preload all data that will be loaded to allow errors to be displayed
+        for tab in self._tabs.values():
+            if tab.load:
+                tab._context_data = tab.get_context_data(request)
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<%s: %s>" % (self.__class__.__name__, self.slug)
@@ -249,6 +253,12 @@ def load(self):
         load_preloaded = self.preload or self.is_active()
         return load_preloaded and self._allowed and self._enabled
 
+    @property
+    def context_data(self):
+        if not getattr(self, "_context_data", None):
+            self._context_data = self.get_context_data(self.request)
+        return self._context_data
+
     def render(self):
         """
         Renders the tab to HTML using the :meth:`~horizon.tabs.Tab.get_data`
@@ -263,7 +273,7 @@ def render(self):
         if not self.load:
             return ''
         try:
-            context = self.get_context_data(self.request)
+            context = self.context_data
         except exceptions.Http302:
             raise
         except: