diff --git a/application/controllers/GroupController.php b/application/controllers/GroupController.php
index 0f45802cb..bf027c836 100644
--- a/application/controllers/GroupController.php
+++ b/application/controllers/GroupController.php
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 <?php
 /* Icinga Web 2 | (c) 2013-2015 Icinga Development Team | GPLv2+ */
 
+use \Exception;
 use \Zend_Controller_Action_Exception;
 use Icinga\Application\Config;
 use Icinga\Authentication\UserGroup\UserGroupBackend;
 use Icinga\Authentication\UserGroup\UserGroupBackendInterface;
 use Icinga\Web\Controller;
 use Icinga\Web\Form;
+use Icinga\Web\Notification;
 use Icinga\Web\Widget;
 
 class GroupController extends Controller
@@ -74,12 +76,17 @@ class GroupController extends Controller
         $query->applyFilter($filterEditor->getFilter());
         $this->setupFilterControl($filterEditor);
 
-        $this->getTabs()->activate('group/list');
+        try {
+            $this->view->groups = $query->paginate();
+            $this->setupPaginationControl($this->view->groups);
+        } catch (Exception $e) {
+            Notification::error($e->getMessage());
+        }
+
         $this->view->backend = $backend;
-        $this->view->groups = $query->paginate();
+        $this->getTabs()->activate('group/list');
 
         $this->setupLimitControl();
-        $this->setupPaginationControl($this->view->groups);
         $this->setupSortControl(
             array(
                 'group_name'    => $this->translate('Group'),
diff --git a/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml b/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml
index 6e63fafdb..9b1b545d2 100644
--- a/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml
+++ b/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ if ($backend === null) {
     return;
 }
 
+if (! isset($groups)) {
+    echo $this->translate('Failed to fetch any groups') . '</div>';
+    return;
+}
+
 if (count($groups) === 0) {
     echo $this->translate('No groups found matching the filter') . '</div>';
     return;