diff --git a/python/ycm/client/base_request.py b/python/ycm/client/base_request.py
index ffc3fac3..97f4bf31 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/base_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/base_request.py
@@ -184,14 +184,14 @@ def JsonFromFuture( future ):
   return None
 
 
-def HandleServerException( exception ):
+def HandleServerException( exception, truncate = False ):
   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.PostMultiLineNotice( serialized_exception )
+  vimsupport.PostVimMessage( serialized_exception, truncate = truncate )
 
 
 def _ToUtf8Json( data ):
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/command_request.py b/python/ycm/client/command_request.py
index 3e00c5a8..fd60f262 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/command_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/command_request.py
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ class CommandRequest( BaseRequest ):
 
   def _HandleFixitResponse( self ):
     if not len( self._response[ 'fixits' ] ):
-      vimsupport.EchoText( "No fixits found for current line" )
+      vimsupport.PostVimMessage( 'No fixits found for current line',
+                                 warning = False )
     else:
       try:
         fixit_index = 0
@@ -119,15 +120,15 @@ class CommandRequest( BaseRequest ):
         vimsupport.ReplaceChunks(
           self._response[ 'fixits' ][ fixit_index ][ 'chunks' ] )
       except RuntimeError as e:
-        vimsupport.PostMultiLineNotice( str( e ) )
+        vimsupport.PostVimMessage( str( e ) )
 
 
   def _HandleBasicResponse( self ):
-    vimsupport.EchoText( self._response )
+    vimsupport.PostVimMessage( self._response, warning = False )
 
 
   def _HandleMessageResponse( self ):
-    vimsupport.EchoText( self._response[ 'message' ] )
+    vimsupport.PostVimMessage( self._response[ 'message' ], warning = False )
 
 
   def _HandleDetailedInfoResponse( self ):
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py b/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
index bf169127..f4440b64 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class CompletionRequest( BaseRequest ):
 
       return JsonFromFuture( self._response_future )[ 'completions' ]
     except ( ServerError, ReadTimeout ) as e:
-      HandleServerException( e )
+      HandleServerException( e, truncate = True )
     return []
 
 
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/tests/command_request_test.py b/python/ycm/client/tests/command_request_test.py
index c6ba97c7..7ae97660 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/tests/command_request_test.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/tests/command_request_test.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class Response_Detection_test( object ):
         request = CommandRequest( [ command ] )
         request._response = response
         request.RunPostCommandActionsIfNeeded()
-        vim_command.assert_called_with( "echom '{0}'".format( response ) )
+        vim_command.assert_called_with( "echo '{0}'".format( response ) )
 
     tests = [
       [ 'AnythingYouLike',        True ],
@@ -140,14 +140,15 @@ class Response_Detection_test( object ):
     # are no fixits available
     def EmptyFixItTest( command ):
       with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.ReplaceChunks' ) as replace_chunks:
-        with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoText' ) as echo_text:
+        with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage' ) as post_vim_message:
           request = CommandRequest( [ command ] )
           request._response = {
             'fixits': []
           }
           request.RunPostCommandActionsIfNeeded()
 
-          echo_text.assert_called_with( 'No fixits found for current line' )
+          post_vim_message.assert_called_with(
+            'No fixits found for current line', warning = False )
           replace_chunks.assert_not_called()
 
     for test in [ 'FixIt', 'Refactor', 'GoToHell', 'any_old_garbade!!!21' ]:
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ class Response_Detection_test( object ):
     # Ensures we recognise and handle fixit responses with some dummy chunk data
     def FixItTest( command, response, chunks, selection ):
       with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.ReplaceChunks' ) as replace_chunks:
-        with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoText' ) as echo_text:
+        with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage' ) as post_vim_message:
           with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.SelectFromList',
                       return_value = selection ):
             request = CommandRequest( [ command ] )
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ class Response_Detection_test( object ):
             request.RunPostCommandActionsIfNeeded()
 
             replace_chunks.assert_called_with( chunks )
-            echo_text.assert_not_called()
+            post_vim_message.assert_not_called()
 
     basic_fixit = {
       'fixits': [ {
@@ -211,11 +212,11 @@ class Response_Detection_test( object ):
     # to the user
 
     def MessageTest( command, message ):
-      with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoText' ) as echo_text:
+      with patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage' ) as post_vim_message:
         request = CommandRequest( [ command ] )
         request._response = { 'message': message }
         request.RunPostCommandActionsIfNeeded()
-        echo_text.assert_called_with( message )
+        post_vim_message.assert_called_with( message, warning = False )
 
     tests = [
       [ '___________', 'This is a message' ],
diff --git a/python/ycm/diagnostic_interface.py b/python/ycm/diagnostic_interface.py
index 7f7de530..8607d8ec 100644
--- a/python/ycm/diagnostic_interface.py
+++ b/python/ycm/diagnostic_interface.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class DiagnosticInterface( object ):
     if not diags:
       if self._diag_message_needs_clearing:
         # Clear any previous diag echo
-        vimsupport.EchoText( '', False )
+        vimsupport.PostVimMessage( '', warning = False )
         self._diag_message_needs_clearing = False
       return
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class DiagnosticInterface( object ):
     if diags[ 0 ].get( 'fixit_available', False ):
       text += ' (FixIt)'
 
-    vimsupport.EchoTextVimWidth( text )
+    vimsupport.PostVimMessage( text, warning = False, truncate = True )
     self._diag_message_needs_clearing = True
 
 
diff --git a/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py b/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py
index d3268369..162fc77e 100644
--- a/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py
+++ b/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py
@@ -37,22 +37,6 @@ from mock import call, MagicMock, patch
 from nose.tools import eq_, ok_
 
 
-def PostVimMessage_Call( message ):
-  """Return a mock.call object for a call to vimsupport.PostVimMesasge with the
-  supplied message"""
-  return call( 'redraw | echohl WarningMsg | echom \''
-               + message +
-               '\' | echohl None' )
-
-
-def PostMultiLineNotice_Call( message ):
-  """Return a mock.call object for a call to vimsupport.PostMultiLineNotice with
-  the supplied message"""
-  return call( 'redraw | echohl WarningMsg | echo \''
-               + message +
-               '\' | echohl None' )
-
-
 def PresentDialog_Confirm_Call( message ):
   """Return a mock.call object for a call to vimsupport.PresentDialog, as called
   why vimsupport.Confirm with the supplied confirmation message"""
@@ -154,8 +138,8 @@ def MockEventNotification( response_method, native_filetype_completer = True ):
 
 class EventNotification_test( Server_test ):
 
-  @patch( 'vim.command', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
-  def FileReadyToParse_NonDiagnostic_Error_test( self, vim_command ):
+  @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+  def FileReadyToParse_NonDiagnostic_Error_test( self, post_vim_message ):
     # This test validates the behaviour of YouCompleteMe.HandleFileParseRequest
     # in combination with YouCompleteMe.OnFileReadyToParse when the completer
     # raises an exception handling FileReadyToParse event notification
@@ -171,23 +155,23 @@ class EventNotification_test( Server_test ):
         self._server_state.HandleFileParseRequest()
 
         # The first call raises a warning
-        vim_command.assert_has_exact_calls( [
-          PostMultiLineNotice_Call( ERROR_TEXT ),
+        post_vim_message.assert_has_exact_calls( [
+          call( ERROR_TEXT, truncate = False )
         ] )
 
         # Subsequent calls don't re-raise the warning
         self._server_state.HandleFileParseRequest()
-        vim_command.assert_has_exact_calls( [
-          PostMultiLineNotice_Call( ERROR_TEXT ),
+        post_vim_message.assert_has_exact_calls( [
+          call( ERROR_TEXT, truncate = False )
         ] )
 
         # But it does if a subsequent event raises again
         self._server_state.OnFileReadyToParse()
         assert self._server_state.FileParseRequestReady()
         self._server_state.HandleFileParseRequest()
-        vim_command.assert_has_exact_calls( [
-          PostMultiLineNotice_Call( ERROR_TEXT ),
-          PostMultiLineNotice_Call( ERROR_TEXT ),
+        post_vim_message.assert_has_exact_calls( [
+          call( ERROR_TEXT, truncate = False ),
+          call( ERROR_TEXT, truncate = False )
         ] )
 
 
diff --git a/python/ycm/tests/vimsupport_test.py b/python/ycm/tests/vimsupport_test.py
index 19dae398..ac72d326 100644
--- a/python/ycm/tests/vimsupport_test.py
+++ b/python/ycm/tests/vimsupport_test.py
@@ -736,18 +736,18 @@ class MockBuffer( object ):
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.VariableExists', return_value = False )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.SetFittingHeightForCurrentWindow' )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.GetBufferNumberForFilename',
-        return_value=1,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = 1,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.BufferIsVisible',
-        return_value=True,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = True,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.OpenFilename' )
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoTextVimWidth', new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'vim.eval', new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'vim.command', new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'vim.eval', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'vim.command', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 def ReplaceChunks_SingleFile_Open_test( vim_command,
                                         vim_eval,
-                                        echo_text_vim_width,
+                                        post_vim_message,
                                         open_filename,
                                         buffer_is_visible,
                                         get_buffer_number_for_filename,
@@ -810,31 +810,31 @@ def ReplaceChunks_SingleFile_Open_test( vim_command,
 
   # And it is ReplaceChunks that prints the message showing the number of
   # changes
-  echo_text_vim_width.assert_has_exact_calls( [
-      call( 'Applied 1 changes' ),
+  post_vim_message.assert_has_exact_calls( [
+      call( 'Applied 1 changes', warning = False ),
   ] )
 
 
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.VariableExists', return_value = False )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.SetFittingHeightForCurrentWindow' )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.GetBufferNumberForFilename',
-        side_effect=[ -1, -1, 1 ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        side_effect = [ -1, -1, 1 ],
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.BufferIsVisible',
-        side_effect=[ False, False, True ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        side_effect = [ False, False, True ],
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.OpenFilename',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoTextVimWidth', new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.Confirm',
-        return_value=True,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'vim.eval', return_value=10, new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'vim.command', new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = True,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'vim.eval', return_value = 10, new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'vim.command', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 def ReplaceChunks_SingleFile_NotOpen_test( vim_command,
                                            vim_eval,
                                            confirm,
-                                           echo_text_vim_width,
+                                           post_vim_message,
                                            open_filename,
                                            buffer_is_visible,
                                            get_buffer_number_for_filename,
@@ -916,33 +916,33 @@ def ReplaceChunks_SingleFile_NotOpen_test( vim_command,
 
   # And it is ReplaceChunks that prints the message showing the number of
   # changes
-  echo_text_vim_width.assert_has_exact_calls( [
-    call( 'Applied 1 changes' ),
+  post_vim_message.assert_has_exact_calls( [
+    call( 'Applied 1 changes', warning = False ),
   ] )
 
 
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.GetBufferNumberForFilename',
-        side_effect=[ -1, -1, 1 ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        side_effect = [ -1, -1, 1 ],
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.BufferIsVisible',
-        side_effect=[ False, False, True ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        side_effect = [ False, False, True ],
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.OpenFilename',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoTextVimWidth',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage',
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.Confirm',
-        return_value=False,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = False,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'vim.eval',
-        return_value=10,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'vim.command', new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = 10,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'vim.command', new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 def ReplaceChunks_User_Declines_To_Open_File_test(
                                            vim_command,
                                            vim_eval,
                                            confirm,
-                                           echo_text_vim_width,
+                                           post_vim_message,
                                            open_filename,
                                            buffer_is_visible,
                                            get_buffer_number_for_filename ):
@@ -993,33 +993,33 @@ def ReplaceChunks_User_Declines_To_Open_File_test(
   open_filename.assert_not_called()
   vim_eval.assert_not_called()
   vim_command.assert_not_called()
-  echo_text_vim_width.assert_not_called()
+  post_vim_message.assert_not_called()
 
 
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.GetBufferNumberForFilename',
-        side_effect=[ -1, -1, 1 ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        side_effect = [ -1, -1, 1 ],
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 # Key difference is here: In the final check, BufferIsVisible returns False
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.BufferIsVisible',
-        side_effect=[ False, False, False ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        side_effect = [ False, False, False ],
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.OpenFilename',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoTextVimWidth',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage',
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.Confirm',
-        return_value=True,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = True,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'vim.eval',
-        return_value=10,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        return_value = 10,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 @patch( 'vim.command',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
 def ReplaceChunks_User_Aborts_Opening_File_test(
                                            vim_command,
                                            vim_eval,
                                            confirm,
-                                           echo_text_vim_width,
+                                           post_vim_message,
                                            open_filename,
                                            buffer_is_visible,
                                            get_buffer_number_for_filename ):
@@ -1066,41 +1066,41 @@ def ReplaceChunks_User_Aborts_Opening_File_test(
   vim_eval.assert_called_with( "&previewheight" )
 
   # But raised an exception before issuing the message at the end
-  echo_text_vim_width.assert_not_called()
+  post_vim_message.assert_not_called()
 
 
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.VariableExists', return_value = False )
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.SetFittingHeightForCurrentWindow' )
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.GetBufferNumberForFilename', side_effect=[
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.GetBufferNumberForFilename', side_effect = [
           22, # first_file (check)
           -1, # another_file (check)
           22, # first_file (apply)
           -1, # another_file (apply)
           19, # another_file (check after open)
         ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock )
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.BufferIsVisible', side_effect=[
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock )
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.BufferIsVisible', side_effect = [
           True,  # first_file (check)
           False, # second_file (check)
           True,  # first_file (apply)
           False, # second_file (apply)
           True,  # side_effect (check after open)
         ],
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock)
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock)
 @patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.OpenFilename',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock)
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.EchoTextVimWidth',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock)
-@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.Confirm', return_value=True,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock)
-@patch( 'vim.eval', return_value=10,
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock)
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock)
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.PostVimMessage',
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock)
+@patch( 'ycm.vimsupport.Confirm', return_value = True,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock)
+@patch( 'vim.eval', return_value = 10,
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock)
 @patch( 'vim.command',
-        new_callable=ExtendedMock)
+        new_callable = ExtendedMock)
 def ReplaceChunks_MultiFile_Open_test( vim_command,
                                        vim_eval,
                                        confirm,
-                                       echo_text_vim_width,
+                                       post_vim_message,
                                        open_filename,
                                        buffer_is_visible,
                                        get_buffer_number_for_filename,
@@ -1193,8 +1193,8 @@ def ReplaceChunks_MultiFile_Open_test( vim_command,
 
   # And it is ReplaceChunks that prints the message showing the number of
   # changes
-  echo_text_vim_width.assert_has_exact_calls( [
-    call( 'Applied 2 changes' ),
+  post_vim_message.assert_has_exact_calls( [
+    call( 'Applied 2 changes', warning = False ),
   ] )
 
 
@@ -1293,7 +1293,8 @@ def WriteToPreviewWindow_JumpFail_test( vim_current, vim_command ):
     call( 'silent! pclose!' ),
     call( 'silent! pedit! _TEMP_FILE_' ),
     call( 'silent! wincmd P' ),
-    call( "echom 'test'" ),
+    call( 'redraw' ),
+    call( "echo 'test'" ),
   ] )
 
   vim_current.buffer.__setitem__.assert_not_called()
@@ -1312,8 +1313,9 @@ def WriteToPreviewWindow_JumpFail_MultiLine_test( vim_current, vim_command ):
     call( 'silent! pclose!' ),
     call( 'silent! pedit! _TEMP_FILE_' ),
     call( 'silent! wincmd P' ),
-    call( "echom 'test'" ),
-    call( "echom 'test2'" ),
+    call( 'redraw' ),
+    call( "echo 'test'" ),
+    call( "echo 'test2'" ),
   ] )
 
   vim_current.buffer.__setitem__.assert_not_called()
diff --git a/python/ycm/vimsupport.py b/python/ycm/vimsupport.py
index e1d750d7..920dc108 100644
--- a/python/ycm/vimsupport.py
+++ b/python/ycm/vimsupport.py
@@ -436,22 +436,47 @@ def NumLinesInBuffer( buffer_object ):
 # Calling this function from the non-GUI thread will sometimes crash Vim. At
 # the time of writing, YCM only uses the GUI thread inside Vim (this used to
 # not be the case).
-# We redraw the screen before displaying the message to avoid the "Press ENTER
-# or type command to continue" prompt when editing a new C-family file.
-def PostVimMessage( message ):
-  vim.command( "redraw | echohl WarningMsg | echom '{0}' | echohl None"
-               .format( EscapeForVim( ToUnicode( message ) ) ) )
+def PostVimMessage( message, warning = True, truncate = False ):
+  """Display a message on the Vim status line. By default, the message is
+  highlighted and logged to Vim command-line history (see :h history).
+  Unset the |warning| parameter to disable this behavior. Set the |truncate|
+  parameter to avoid hit-enter prompts (see :h hit-enter) when the message is
+  longer than the window width."""
+  echo_command = 'echom' if warning else 'echo'
 
+  # Displaying a new message while previous ones are still on the status line
+  # might lead to a hit-enter prompt or the message appearing without a
+  # newline so we do a redraw first.
+  vim.command( 'redraw' )
 
-# Unlike PostVimMesasge, this supports messages with newlines in them because it
-# uses 'echo' instead of 'echomsg'. This also means that the message will NOT
-# appear in Vim's message log.
-# Similarly to PostVimMesasge, we do a redraw first to clear any previous
-# messages, which might lead to this message appearing without a newline and/or
-# requring the "Press ENTER or type command to continue".
-def PostMultiLineNotice( message ):
-  vim.command( "redraw | echohl WarningMsg | echo '{0}' | echohl None"
-               .format( EscapeForVim( ToUnicode( message ) ) ) )
+  if warning:
+    vim.command( 'echohl WarningMsg' )
+
+  message = ToUnicode( message )
+
+  if truncate:
+    vim_width = GetIntValue( '&columns' )
+
+    message = message.replace( '\n', ' ' )
+    if len( message ) > vim_width:
+      message = message[ : vim_width - 4 ] + '...'
+
+    old_ruler = GetIntValue( '&ruler' )
+    old_showcmd = GetIntValue( '&showcmd' )
+    vim.command( 'set noruler noshowcmd' )
+
+    vim.command( "{0} '{1}'".format( echo_command,
+                                     EscapeForVim( message ) ) )
+
+    SetVariableValue( '&ruler', old_ruler )
+    SetVariableValue( '&showcmd', old_showcmd )
+  else:
+    for line in message.split( '\n' ):
+      vim.command( "{0} '{1}'".format( echo_command,
+                                       EscapeForVim( line ) ) )
+
+  if warning:
+    vim.command( 'echohl None' )
 
 
 def PresentDialog( message, choices, default_choice_index = 0 ):
@@ -542,33 +567,6 @@ def SelectFromList( prompt, items ):
   return selected
 
 
-def EchoText( text, log_as_message = True ):
-  def EchoLine( text ):
-    command = 'echom' if log_as_message else 'echo'
-    vim.command( "{0} '{1}'".format( command,
-                                     EscapeForVim( text ) ) )
-
-  for line in ToUnicode( text ).split( '\n' ):
-    EchoLine( line )
-
-
-# Echos text but truncates it so that it all fits on one line
-def EchoTextVimWidth( text ):
-  vim_width = GetIntValue( '&columns' )
-  truncated_text = ToUnicode( text )[ : int( vim_width * 0.9 ) ]
-  truncated_text.replace( '\n', ' ' )
-
-  old_ruler = GetIntValue( '&ruler' )
-  old_showcmd = GetIntValue( '&showcmd' )
-  vim.command( 'set noruler noshowcmd' )
-  vim.command( 'redraw' )
-
-  EchoText( truncated_text, False )
-
-  SetVariableValue( '&ruler', old_ruler )
-  SetVariableValue( '&showcmd', old_showcmd )
-
-
 def EscapeForVim( text ):
   return ToUnicode( text.replace( "'", "''" ) )
 
@@ -736,7 +734,8 @@ def ReplaceChunks( chunks ):
   if locations:
     SetQuickFixList( locations )
 
-  EchoTextVimWidth( "Applied " + str( len( chunks ) ) + " changes" )
+  PostVimMessage( 'Applied {0} changes'.format( len( chunks ) ),
+                  warning = False )
 
 
 def ReplaceChunksInBuffer( chunks, vim_buffer, locations ):
@@ -851,7 +850,7 @@ def InsertNamespace( namespace ):
   new_line = "{0}using {1};\n\n".format( existing_indent, namespace )
   replace_pos = { 'line_num': line + 1, 'column_num': 1 }
   ReplaceChunk( replace_pos, replace_pos, new_line, 0, 0 )
-  PostVimMessage( "Add namespace: {0}".format( namespace ) )
+  PostVimMessage( 'Add namespace: {0}'.format( namespace ), warning = False )
 
 
 def SearchInCurrentBuffer( pattern ):
@@ -926,7 +925,7 @@ def WriteToPreviewWindow( message ):
     # We couldn't get to the preview window, but we still want to give the user
     # the information we have. The only remaining option is to echo to the
     # status area.
-    EchoText( message )
+    PostVimMessage( message, warning = False )
 
 
 def CheckFilename( filename ):
diff --git a/python/ycm/youcompleteme.py b/python/ycm/youcompleteme.py
index b1152b98..bd6ccdba 100644
--- a/python/ycm/youcompleteme.py
+++ b/python/ycm/youcompleteme.py
@@ -578,7 +578,8 @@ class YouCompleteMe( object ):
       debug_info = BaseRequest.PostDataToHandler( BuildRequestData(),
                                                   'detailed_diagnostic' )
       if 'message' in debug_info:
-        vimsupport.EchoText( debug_info[ 'message' ] )
+        vimsupport.PostVimMessage( debug_info[ 'message' ],
+                                   warning = False )
     except ServerError as e:
       vimsupport.PostVimMessage( str( e ) )