diff --git a/static/longpolling.js b/static/longpolling.js
index 75c6faeaf3..5b704acec3 100644
--- a/static/longpolling.js
+++ b/static/longpolling.js
@@ -3,17 +3,7 @@
 
 connfails=0;
 
-connfailed=
-  '<div id="modal" class="modal fade">' +
-  '  <div class="modal-header">' +
-  '    <h3>git-annex has shut down</h3>' +
-  '  </div>' +
-  '  <div class="modal-body">' +
-  '    You can now close this browser window.' +
-  '  </div>' +
-  '</div>' ;
-
-function longpoll(url, divid, cont) {
+function longpoll(url, divid, cont, fail) {
 	$.ajax({
 		'url': url,
 		'dataType': 'html',
@@ -25,10 +15,7 @@ function longpoll(url, divid, cont) {
 		'error': function(jqxhr, msg, e) {
 			connfails=connfails+1;
 			if (connfails > 3) {
-				// blocked by many browsers
-				window.close();
-				$('#modal').replaceWith(connfailed);
-				$('#modal').modal('show');
+				fail();
 			}
 			else {
 				cont();
diff --git a/templates/longpolling.julius b/templates/longpolling.julius
index d34d5b47d8..520699cd73 100644
--- a/templates/longpolling.julius
+++ b/templates/longpolling.julius
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 // longpolling for #{ident}
 function poller#{ident}() {
-	longpoll('@{gethtml}', '#{ident}', function() {
-		setTimeout(poller#{ident}, #{delay});
-	});
+	longpoll('@{gethtml}', '#{ident}'
+		, function() { setTimeout(poller#{ident}, #{delay}); }
+		, function() { webapp_disconnected(); }
+	);
 }
 $(function() {
 	setTimeout(poller#{ident}, #{startdelay});
diff --git a/templates/page.julius b/templates/page.julius
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a9d0b42239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/page.julius
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+connfailed =
+  '<div id="modal" class="modal fade">' +
+  '  <div class="modal-header">' +
+  '    <h3>git-annex has shut down</h3>' +
+  '  </div>' +
+  '  <div class="modal-body">' +
+  '    You can now close this browser window.' +
+  '  </div>' +
+  '</div>' ;
+
+function webapp_disconnected () {
+	$('#modal').replaceWith(connfailed);
+	$('#modal').modal('show');
+
+	// ideal, but blocked by many browsers
+	window.close();
+}