diff --git a/static/js/dialog_widget.js b/static/js/dialog_widget.js
index c16b0517cd..6b5968457a 100644
--- a/static/js/dialog_widget.js
+++ b/static/js/dialog_widget.js
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ export function launch(conf) {
         } else if (conf.close_on_submit) {
             close_modal();
         }
-        $("#dialog_error").empty();
+        $("#dialog_error").hide();
         conf.on_click(e);
     });