diff --git a/python/ycm/client/command_request.py b/python/ycm/client/command_request.py
index 28dc1278..bdfe5b42 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/command_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/command_request.py
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ standard_library.install_aliases()
 from builtins import *  # noqa
 
 import vim
-from ycm.client.base_request import BaseRequest, BuildRequestData, ServerError
+from ycmd.responses import ServerError
+from ycm.client.base_request import ( BaseRequest, BuildRequestData,
+                                      HandleServerException )
+
 from ycm import vimsupport
 from ycmd.utils import ToUnicode
 
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ class CommandRequest( BaseRequest ):
       self._response = self.PostDataToHandler( request_data,
                                                'run_completer_command' )
     except ServerError as e:
-      vimsupport.PostMultiLineNotice( e )
+      HandleServerException( e )
 
 
   def Response( self ):
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/completer_available_request.py b/python/ycm/client/completer_available_request.py
index a90ef1cb..9e98da0e 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/completer_available_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/completer_available_request.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from builtins import *  # noqa
 
 from ycm.client.base_request import ( BaseRequest, BuildRequestData,
                                       HandleServerException )
+from ycmd.responses import ServerError
 
 class CompleterAvailableRequest( BaseRequest ):
   def __init__( self, filetypes ):
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ class CompleterAvailableRequest( BaseRequest ):
     try:
       self._response = self.PostDataToHandler( request_data,
                                                'semantic_completion_available' )
-    except Exception as e:
+    except ServerError as e:
       HandleServerException( e )
 
 
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py b/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
index 5b66ef3e..faf3c188 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/completion_request.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from ycmd.utils import ToUnicode
 from ycm.client.base_request import ( BaseRequest, JsonFromFuture,
                                       HandleServerException,
                                       MakeServerException )
+from ycmd.responses import ServerError
 
 TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 0.5
 
@@ -53,12 +54,12 @@ class CompletionRequest( BaseRequest ):
     try:
       response = JsonFromFuture( self._response_future )
 
-      errors = response['errors'] if 'errors' in response else []
+      errors = response[ 'errors' ] if 'errors' in response else []
       for e in errors:
         HandleServerException( MakeServerException( e ) )
 
       return JsonFromFuture( self._response_future )[ 'completions' ]
-    except Exception as e:
+    except ServerError as e:
       HandleServerException( e )
     return []
 
diff --git a/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py b/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py
index 77e05a87..5537f5b8 100644
--- a/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py
+++ b/python/ycm/client/event_notification.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ standard_library.install_aliases()
 from builtins import *  # noqa
 
 from ycm import vimsupport
-from ycmd.responses import UnknownExtraConf
+from ycmd.responses import UnknownExtraConf, ServerError
 from ycm.client.base_request import ( BaseRequest, BuildRequestData,
                                       JsonFromFuture, HandleServerException )
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class EventNotification( BaseRequest ):
             _LoadExtraConfFile( e.extra_conf_file )
           else:
             _IgnoreExtraConfFile( e.extra_conf_file )
-    except Exception as e:
+    except ServerError as e:
       HandleServerException( e )
 
     return self._cached_response if self._cached_response else []
diff --git a/python/ycm/omni_completer.py b/python/ycm/omni_completer.py
index e9703311..38da2ede 100644
--- a/python/ycm/omni_completer.py
+++ b/python/ycm/omni_completer.py
@@ -25,8 +25,9 @@ from builtins import *  # noqa
 
 import vim
 from ycm import vimsupport
+from ycmd.responses import ServerError
 from ycmd.completers.completer import Completer
-from ycm.client.base_request import BaseRequest, ServerError
+from ycm.client.base_request import BaseRequest, HandleServerException
 
 OMNIFUNC_RETURNED_BAD_VALUE = 'Omnifunc returned bad value to YCM!'
 OMNIFUNC_NOT_LIST = ( 'Omnifunc did not return a list or a dict with a "words" '
@@ -114,5 +115,5 @@ class OmniCompleter( Completer ):
       return BaseRequest.PostDataToHandler( request_data,
                                             'filter_and_sort_candidates' )
     except ServerError as e:
-      vimsupport.PostMultiLineNotice( e )
+      HandleServerException( e )
       return candidates
diff --git a/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py b/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py
index 2bebd069..741f7124 100644
--- a/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py
+++ b/python/ycm/tests/event_notification_test.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ from ycm.youcompleteme import YouCompleteMe
 from ycm.client.base_request import YCMD_ERROR_PREFIX
 from ycmd import user_options_store
 from ycmd.responses import ( BuildDiagnosticData, Diagnostic, Location, Range,
-                             UnknownExtraConf )
+                             UnknownExtraConf, ServerError )
 
 from mock import call, MagicMock, patch
 from nose.tools import eq_, ok_
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class EventNotification_test( object ):
     ERROR_TEXT = 'Some completer response text'
 
     def ErrorResponse( *args ):
-      raise RuntimeError( ERROR_TEXT )
+      raise ServerError( ERROR_TEXT )
 
     with MockArbitraryBuffer( 'javascript' ):
       with MockEventNotification( ErrorResponse ):