diff --git a/app/main/views/send.py b/app/main/views/send.py
index 557faf0ba..07b837101 100644
--- a/app/main/views/send.py
+++ b/app/main/views/send.py
@@ -668,11 +668,11 @@ def _check_notification(service_id, template_id, exception=None):
 
 def get_template_error_dict(exception):
     # TODO: Make API return some computer-friendly identifier as well as the end user error messages
-    if 'service is in trial mode' in exception.message:
+    if 'service is in trial mode' in exception._message:
         error = 'not-allowed-to-send-to'
-    elif 'Exceeded send limits' in exception.message:
+    elif 'Exceeded send limits' in exception._message:
         error = 'too-many-messages'
-    elif 'Content for template has a character count greater than the limit of' in exception.message:
+    elif 'Content for template has a character count greater than the limit of' in exception._message:
         error = 'message-too-long'
     else:
         raise exception