diff --git a/internal/playback/handler/handler.go b/internal/playback/handler/handler.go
index 9cd1483..f5f3c54 100644
--- a/internal/playback/handler/handler.go
+++ b/internal/playback/handler/handler.go
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func (h *PlaybackHandler) HandleUpsertSkipSegment(c *gin.Context) {
 		userID = u.ID
 	}
 	if userID == "" {
-		c.Status(http.StatusUnauthorized)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "login required"})
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -217,12 +217,12 @@ func (h *PlaybackHandler) HandleUpsertSkipSegment(c *gin.Context) {
 		EndTime   float64 `json:"end_time"`
 	}
 	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req); err != nil {
-		c.Status(http.StatusBadRequest)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "invalid request body"})
 		return
 	}
 
 	if err := h.svc.UpsertSkipSegmentOverride(c.Request.Context(), userID, req.MalID, req.Episode, req.SkipType, req.StartTime, req.EndTime); err != nil {
-		c.Status(http.StatusBadRequest)
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/static/player/skip/editor.ts b/static/player/skip/editor.ts
index 15d62e6..a5fc07c 100644
--- a/static/player/skip/editor.ts
+++ b/static/player/skip/editor.ts
@@ -140,7 +140,12 @@ export const setupSegmentEditor = (): void => {
         }),
       });
       if (!res.ok) {
-        setError(res.status === 401 ? 'Login required.' : 'Failed to save segment.');
+        let message = res.status === 401 ? 'Login required.' : 'Failed to save segment.';
+        try {
+          const payload = (await res.json()) as { error?: string };
+          if (payload?.error) message = payload.error;
+        } catch {}
+        setError(message);
         return;
       }