diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard/dashboard_ctrl.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard/dashboard_ctrl.ts
index 6340c29724f..a286512f22c 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard/dashboard_ctrl.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard/dashboard_ctrl.ts
@@ -54,15 +54,20 @@ export class DashboardCtrl {
             $scope.setWindowTitleAndTheme();
 
             $scope.appEvent("dashboard-initialized", $scope.dashboard);
-          }).catch(function(err) {
-            if (err.data && err.data.message) { err.message = err.data.message; }
-            $scope.appEvent("alert-error", ['Dashboard init failed', 'Template variables could not be initialized: ' + err.message]);
-          });
+          }).catch($scope.dashboardInitError.bind(this));
         } catch (err) {
-          $scope.appEvent("alert-error", ['Dashboard init failed', err.message]);
+          $scope.dashboardInitError(err);
         }
       };
 
+      $scope.dashboardInitError = function(err) {
+        console.log('Dashboard init failed', err);
+        if (err.data && err.data.message) {
+          err.message = err.data.message;
+        }
+        $scope.appEvent("alert-error", ['Dashboard init failed', err.message]);
+      };
+
       $scope.templateVariableUpdated = function() {
         dynamicDashboardSrv.update($scope.dashboard);
       };