diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/app/controllers/editor.js b/app/assets/javascripts/app/controllers/editor.js
index 448b1ad6c..ae9fb2c4f 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/app/controllers/editor.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/app/controllers/editor.js
@@ -56,7 +56,11 @@ angular.module('app')
           }
         }
       } else if(eventName == "sync:error") {
-        this.showErrorStatus();
+        // only show error status in editor if the note is dirty. Otherwise, it means the originating sync
+        // came from somewhere else and we don't want to display an error here.
+        if(this.note.dirty){
+          this.showErrorStatus();
+        }
       }
     });