diff --git a/app/controllers/isa_assays_controller.rb b/app/controllers/isa_assays_controller.rb
index dbf1ce9807..b343b2b2d4 100644
--- a/app/controllers/isa_assays_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/isa_assays_controller.rb
@@ -212,7 +212,9 @@ def find_requested_item
     end
 
     if @isa_assay.errors.any?
-      error_messages = @isa_assay.errors.full_messages.map { |msg| "<li>[#{t('isa_assay')}]: #{msg}</li>" }.join('')
+      error_messages = @isa_assay.errors.map do |error|
+        "<li>[<b>#{error.attribute.to_s}</b>]: #{error.message}</li>"
+      end.join('')
       flash[:error] = "<ul>#{error_messages}</ul>".html_safe
       redirect_to single_page_path(id: @isa_assay.assay.projects.first, item_type: 'assay',
                                    item_id: @isa_assay.assay)
diff --git a/app/controllers/isa_studies_controller.rb b/app/controllers/isa_studies_controller.rb
index 990169a543..791575e4d2 100644
--- a/app/controllers/isa_studies_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/isa_studies_controller.rb
@@ -36,12 +36,7 @@ def create
   end
 
   def edit
-    @isa_study.source = nil unless requested_item_authorized?(@isa_study.source)
-    @isa_study.sample_collection = nil unless requested_item_authorized?(@isa_study.sample_collection)
-
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.html
-    end
+    respond_to(&:html)
   end
 
   def update
@@ -132,8 +127,20 @@ def set_up_instance_variable
   def find_requested_item
     @isa_study = IsaStudy.new
     @isa_study.populate(params[:id])
-    unless requested_item_authorized?(@isa_study.study)
-      flash[:error] = "You are not authorized to edit this #{t('isa_study')}"
+
+    @isa_study.errors.add(:study, "The #{t('isa_study')} was not found.") if @isa_study.study.nil?
+    @isa_study.errors.add(:study, "You are not authorized to edit this #{t('isa_study')}.") unless requested_item_authorized?(@isa_study.study)
+
+    @isa_study.errors.add(:sample_type, "'Study source' #{t('sample_type')} not found.") if @isa_study.source.nil?
+    @isa_study.errors.add(:sample_type, "You are not authorized to edit the 'study source' #{t('sample_type')}.") unless requested_item_authorized?(@isa_study.source)
+    @isa_study.errors.add(:sample_type, "'Study sample' #{t('sample_type')} not found.") if @isa_study.sample_collection.nil?
+    @isa_study.errors.add(:sample_type, "You are not authorized to edit the 'study sample' #{t('sample_type')}.") unless requested_item_authorized?(@isa_study.sample_collection)
+
+    if @isa_study.errors.any?
+      error_messages = @isa_study.errors.map do |error|
+        "<li>[<b>#{error.attribute.to_s}</b>]: #{error.message}</li>"
+      end.join('')
+      flash[:error] = "<ul>#{error_messages}</ul>".html_safe
       redirect_to single_page_path(id: @isa_study.study.projects.first, item_type: 'study',
                                    item_id: @isa_study.study)
     end