diff --git a/python/ycm/client/base_request.py b/python/ycm/client/base_request.py
index 72d39fee..507af7fb 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/base_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/base_request.py
@@ -163,6 +163,16 @@ def JsonFromFuture( future ):
   return None
 
 
+def HandleServerException( exception ):
+  serialized_exception = str( exception )
+
+  # We ignore the exception about the file already being parsed since it comes
+  # up often and isn't something that's actionable by the user.
+  if 'already being parsed' in serialized_exception:
+    return
+  vimsupport.PostVimMessage( serialized_exception )
+
+
 def _ValidateResponseObject( response ):
   if not utils.ContentHexHmacValid(
       response.content,
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py b/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
index b6700155..6178bbd6 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with YouCompleteMe.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from ycm import vimsupport
 from ycmd.utils import ToUtf8IfNeeded
-from ycm.client.base_request import BaseRequest, JsonFromFuture
+from ycm.client.base_request import ( BaseRequest, JsonFromFuture,
+                                      HandleServerException )
 
 TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 0.5
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class CompletionRequest( BaseRequest ):
       return _ConvertCompletionResponseToVimDatas(
           JsonFromFuture( self._response_future ) )
     except Exception as e:
-      vimsupport.PostVimMessage( str( e ) )
+      HandleServerException( e )
     return []
 
 
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py b/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py
index a5978ad0..80eb04bd 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from ycm import vimsupport
 from ycmd.responses import UnknownExtraConf
 from ycm.client.base_request import ( BaseRequest, BuildRequestData,
-                                     JsonFromFuture )
+                                      JsonFromFuture, HandleServerException )
 
 
 class EventNotification( BaseRequest ):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class EventNotification( BaseRequest ):
           else:
             _IgnoreExtraConfFile( e.extra_conf_file )
     except Exception as e:
-      vimsupport.PostVimMessage( str( e ) )
+      HandleServerException( e )
 
     return self._cached_response if self._cached_response else []