diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/animosd.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/animosd.py
index e6cc193521..340a95af4b 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/animosd.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/ext/events/animosd.py
@@ -673,6 +673,11 @@ def plugin_on_song_started(self, song):
         window.show()
         window.fade_in()
 
+    def plugin_on_error(self, song, error):
+        if self.__current_window is not None:
+            self.__current_window.destroy()
+            self.__current_window = None
+
     @staticmethod
     def start_fade_out(window):
         window.fade_out()
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/player/__init__.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/player/__init__.py
index 3f045a7684..ae94921518 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/player/__init__.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/player/__init__.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ def __unicode__(self):
         return self.short_desc + (
             u"\n" + self.long_desc if self.long_desc else u"")
 
+    def __str__(self):
+        return unicode(self).encode('utf-8')
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "%s(%r, %r)" % (
             type(self).__name__, repr(self.short_desc), repr(self.long_desc))
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/plugins/events.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/plugins/events.py
index e9563d5f7a..8df72ac57a 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/plugins/events.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/plugins/events.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ class EventPlugin(object):
         obj.plugin_on_paused()
         obj.plugin_on_unpaused()
         obj.plugin_on_seek(song, msec)
+        obj.plugin_on_error(song, error)
     """
 
     PLUGIN_INSTANCE = True
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ def handler(librarian, *args):
                 librarian.connect(event, handler, event)
 
         if librarian and player:
-            sigs = _map_signals(player, blacklist=("notify", "error"))
+            sigs = _map_signals(player, blacklist=("notify",))
             for event, handle in sigs:
                 def cb_handler(librarian, *args):
                     self.__invoke(librarian, args[-1], *args[:-1])
diff --git a/quodlibet/quodlibet/qltk/quodlibetwindow.py b/quodlibet/quodlibet/qltk/quodlibetwindow.py
index 2ba6631724..db81aff461 100644
--- a/quodlibet/quodlibet/qltk/quodlibetwindow.py
+++ b/quodlibet/quodlibet/qltk/quodlibetwindow.py
@@ -453,11 +453,15 @@ def delayed_song_set():
             ('song-started', self.__song_started),
             ('paused', self.__update_paused, True),
             ('unpaused', self.__update_paused, False),
-            ('error', self.__player_error),
         ]
         for sig in player_sigs:
             gobject_weak(player.connect, *sig, **{"parent": self})
 
+        # make sure we redraw all error indicators before opening
+        # a dialog (blocking the main loop), so connect after default handlers
+        gobject_weak(player.connect_after, 'error',
+                     self.__player_error, **{"parent": self})
+
         # connect after to let SongTracker update stats
         player_sigs.append(
             gobject_weak(player.connect_after, "song-ended",