diff --git a/src/multiplayer_error_codes.hpp b/src/multiplayer_error_codes.hpp
index 44e2d5ac716b..1aa41643ab58 100644
--- a/src/multiplayer_error_codes.hpp
+++ b/src/multiplayer_error_codes.hpp
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@
 #define MP_NAME_RESERVED_ERROR				"104"
 #define MP_NAME_UNREGISTERED_ERROR			"105"
 #define MP_NAME_INACTIVE_WARNING			"106"
-#define MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_ERROR				"107"
+#define MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_USER_ERROR			"107"
+#define MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_IP_ERROR			"108"
+#define MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_EMAIL_ERROR		"109"
 
 #define MP_PASSWORD_REQUEST				"200"
 #define MP_PASSWORD_REQUEST_FOR_LOGGED_IN_NAME		"201"
diff --git a/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp b/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp
index 02c07223d43f..446138b25786 100644
--- a/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp
+++ b/src/server/forum_user_handler.cpp
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ void fuh::set_is_moderator(const std::string& name, const bool& is_moderator) {
 	}
 }
 
-bool fuh::user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr)
+fuh::BAN_TYPE fuh::user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr)
 {
 	if(!user_exists(name)) {
 		throw error("No user with the name '" + name + "' exists.");
@@ -185,26 +185,26 @@ bool fuh::user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr)
 			ERR_UH << "Invalid user id for user '" << name << "'\n";
 		} else if(prepared_statement<bool>("SELECT 1 FROM `" + db_banlist_table_ + "` WHERE ban_userid = ? AND ban_exclude = 0", uid)) {
 			LOG_UH << "User '" << name << "' uid " << uid << " banned by uid\n";
-			return true;
+			return BAN_USER;
 		}
 
 		if(!addr.empty() && prepared_statement<bool>("SELECT 1 FROM `" + db_banlist_table_ + "` WHERE UPPER(ban_ip) = UPPER(?) AND ban_exclude = 0", addr)) {
 			LOG_UH << "User '" << name << "' ip " << addr << " banned by IP address\n";
-			return true;
+			return BAN_IP;
 		}
 
 		auto email = get_detail_for_user<std::string>(name, "user_email");
 
 		if(!email.empty() && prepared_statement<bool>("SELECT 1 FROM `" + db_banlist_table_ + "` WHERE UPPER(ban_email) = UPPER(?) AND ban_exclude = 0", email)) {
 			LOG_UH << "User '" << name << "' email " << email << " banned by email address\n";
-			return true;
+			return BAN_EMAIL;
 		}
 
 	} catch(sql_error& e) {
 		ERR_UH << "Could not check forum bans on user '" << name << "' :" << e.message << '\n';
 	}
 
-	return false;
+	return BAN_NONE;
 }
 
 std::string fuh::user_info(const std::string& name) {
diff --git a/src/server/forum_user_handler.hpp b/src/server/forum_user_handler.hpp
index 16643f9e2d46..5e23e5ef7fc2 100644
--- a/src/server/forum_user_handler.hpp
+++ b/src/server/forum_user_handler.hpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class fuh : public user_handler {
 		bool user_is_moderator(const std::string& name);
 		void set_is_moderator(const std::string& name, const bool& is_moderator);
 
-		bool user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr);
+		BAN_TYPE user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr);
 
 		// Throws user_handler::error
 		std::string user_info(const std::string& name);
diff --git a/src/server/sample_user_handler.cpp b/src/server/sample_user_handler.cpp
index f4dcdd16994a..4b14ccb70931 100644
--- a/src/server/sample_user_handler.cpp
+++ b/src/server/sample_user_handler.cpp
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ void suh::set_is_moderator(const std::string& name, const bool& is_moderator) {
 	users_[name].is_moderator = is_moderator;
 }
 
-bool suh::user_is_banned(const std::string&, const std::string&) {
+suh::BAN_TYPE suh::user_is_banned(const std::string&, const std::string&) {
 	// FIXME: stub
-	return false;
+	return BAN_NONE;
 }
 
 void suh::set_mail(const std::string& user, const std::string& mail) {
diff --git a/src/server/sample_user_handler.hpp b/src/server/sample_user_handler.hpp
index 033bae2c58ee..744e23a7f781 100644
--- a/src/server/sample_user_handler.hpp
+++ b/src/server/sample_user_handler.hpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class suh : public user_handler {
 		bool user_is_moderator(const std::string& name);
 		void set_is_moderator(const std::string& name, const bool& is_moderator);
 
-		bool user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string&);
+		BAN_TYPE user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string&);
 
 		std::string user_info(const std::string& name);
 
diff --git a/src/server/server.cpp b/src/server/server.cpp
index b92ef1fbeddd..79e5d9e71d5e 100644
--- a/src/server/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server/server.cpp
@@ -650,17 +650,46 @@ bool server::is_login_allowed(socket_ptr socket, const simple_wml::node* const l
 	}
 
 	const bool is_moderator = user_handler_ && user_handler_->user_is_moderator(username);
-	const bool is_auth_banned = user_handler_ && user_handler_->user_is_banned(username, client_address(socket));
+	const user_handler::BAN_TYPE auth_ban = user_handler_
+		                                    ? user_handler_->user_is_banned(username, client_address(socket))
+		                                    : user_handler::BAN_NONE;
+
+	if(auth_ban) {
+		std::string ban_type_desc;
+		std::string ban_reason;
+		const char* msg_numeric;
+
+		switch(auth_ban) {
+			case user_handler::BAN_USER:
+				ban_type_desc = "account";
+				msg_numeric = MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_USER_ERROR;
+				ban_reason = "a ban has been issued on your user account.";
+				break;
+			case user_handler::BAN_IP:
+				ban_type_desc = "IP address";
+				msg_numeric = MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_IP_ERROR;
+				ban_reason = "a ban has been issued on your IP address.";
+				break;
+			case user_handler::BAN_EMAIL:
+				ban_type_desc = "email address";
+				msg_numeric = MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_EMAIL_ERROR;
+				ban_reason = "a ban has been issued on your email address.";
+				break;
+			default:
+				ban_type_desc = "<unknown ban type>";
+				msg_numeric = "";
+				ban_reason = ban_type_desc;
+		}
 
-	if(is_auth_banned) {
 		if(!is_moderator) {
 			LOG_SERVER << client_address(socket) << "\t" << username
-			           << "\tis banned by user_handler\n";
-			async_send_error(socket, "The nickname '" + username + "' is banned on this server.", MP_NAME_AUTH_BAN_ERROR);
+			           << "\tis banned by user_handler (" << ban_type_desc << ")\n";
+			async_send_error(socket, "You are banned from this server: " + ban_reason, msg_numeric);
 			return false;
 		} else {
 			LOG_SERVER << client_address(socket) << "\t" << username
-			           << "\tis banned by user_handler, ignoring due to moderator flag\n";
+			           << "\tis banned by user_handler (" << ban_type_desc << "), "
+			           << "ignoring due to moderator flag\n";
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -694,7 +723,7 @@ bool server::is_login_allowed(socket_ptr socket, const simple_wml::node* const l
 									"If you no longer want to be automatically authenticated use '/query signout'.");
 	}
 
-	if(is_auth_banned) {
+	if(auth_ban) {
 		send_server_message(socket, "You are currently banned by the forum administration.");
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/server/user_handler.hpp b/src/server/user_handler.hpp
index c19ab131e4f5..dfa77f54fc7f 100644
--- a/src/server/user_handler.hpp
+++ b/src/server/user_handler.hpp
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@ class user_handler {
 		/** Mark this user as a moderator */
 		virtual void set_is_moderator(const std::string& name, const bool& is_moderator) =0;
 
+		enum BAN_TYPE
+		{
+			BAN_NONE,
+			BAN_USER,
+			BAN_IP,
+			BAN_EMAIL,
+		};
+
 		/**
 		 * Returns true if this user account or IP address is banned.
 		 *
@@ -115,7 +123,7 @@ class user_handler {
 		 *       subclass. Regular IP ban checks are done by @a server_base
 		 *       instead.
 		 */
-		virtual bool user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr="") = 0;
+		virtual BAN_TYPE user_is_banned(const std::string& name, const std::string& addr="") = 0;
 
 		struct error : public game::error {
 			error(const std::string& message) : game::error(message) {}