diff --git a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/importer/fetcher/WebSearchPaneViewModel.java b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/importer/fetcher/WebSearchPaneViewModel.java
index 342d7e61fc3..5775916238d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/importer/fetcher/WebSearchPaneViewModel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/jabref/gui/importer/fetcher/WebSearchPaneViewModel.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import org.jabref.gui.JabRefFrame;
 import org.jabref.gui.importer.ImportEntriesDialog;
 import org.jabref.gui.util.BackgroundTask;
+import org.jabref.logic.importer.FetcherException;
 import org.jabref.logic.importer.ImportFormatPreferences;
 import org.jabref.logic.importer.ParserResult;
 import org.jabref.logic.importer.SearchBasedFetcher;
@@ -94,10 +95,22 @@ public void search() {
         BackgroundTask<ParserResult> task = BackgroundTask.wrap(() -> new ParserResult(activeFetcher.performSearch(getQuery().trim())))
                                                           .withInitialMessage(Localization.lang("Processing %0", getQuery()));
 
-        task.onFailure(dialogService::showErrorDialogAndWait);
+        task.onFailure(this::exceptionHandler);
 
         ImportEntriesDialog dialog = new ImportEntriesDialog(frame.getCurrentBasePanel().getBibDatabaseContext(), task);
         dialog.setTitle(activeFetcher.getName());
         dialog.showAndWait();
     }
+
+    private void exceptionHandler(Exception exception) {
+        if (exception instanceof FetcherException) {
+            if (exception.getMessage().equals("A network error occurred")) {
+                dialogService.showWarningDialogAndWait(Localization.lang("An error occurred"),
+                        Localization.lang(exception.getMessage() + ". You have no rights to access resources."));
+            }
+        } else {
+            dialogService.showWarningDialogAndWait(Localization.lang("An error occurred"),
+                    Localization.lang(exception.getMessage()));
+        }
+    }
 }