diff --git a/core/auth/ui/api.go b/core/auth/ui/api.go
index 6d14899..a0065a6 100644
--- a/core/auth/ui/api.go
+++ b/core/auth/ui/api.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -60,9 +61,16 @@
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	fmt.Fprintf(&buf, identityCreateTmpl, req.Password, req.Username)
 	resp, err := http.Post(s.identitiesEndpoint(), "application/json", &buf)
-	if err != nil || resp.StatusCode != http.StatusCreated {
+	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, "failed", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
+	} else if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusCreated {
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		if _, err := io.Copy(&buf, resp.Body); err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, "failed to copy response body", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		} else {
+			http.Error(w, buf.String(), resp.StatusCode)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/core/installer/welcome/welcome.go b/core/installer/welcome/welcome.go
index 9c672de..60adf6b 100644
--- a/core/installer/welcome/welcome.go
+++ b/core/installer/welcome/welcome.go
@@ -117,7 +117,13 @@
 		}
 		resp, err := http.Post(s.createAccountAddr, "application/json", &buf)
 		if err != nil {
-			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			var respBody bytes.Buffer
+			if _, err := io.Copy(&respBody, resp.Body); err != nil {
+				http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			}
+			respStr := respBody.String()
+			log.Println(respStr)
+			http.Error(w, respStr, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			return
 		}
 		// TODO(gio): better handle status code and error message