diff --git a/astrid/AndroidManifest.xml b/astrid/AndroidManifest.xml
index 1644344d7..846786fdc 100644
--- a/astrid/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/astrid/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
   <!-- for google tasks -->
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS" />
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.USE_CREDENTIALS" />
+  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.MANAGE_ACCOUNTS" />
   <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.googleapps.permission.GOOGLE_AUTH" />
   <!-- for task sharing -->
   <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />  
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/api/GtasksService.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/api/GtasksService.java
index d75e364c0..e8c1195d4 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/api/GtasksService.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/api/GtasksService.java
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ package com.todoroo.astrid.gtasks.api;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 
+import android.app.Activity;
+import android.content.Context;
+
 import com.google.api.client.extensions.android2.AndroidHttp;
 import com.google.api.client.googleapis.auth.oauth2.draft10.GoogleAccessProtectedResource;
 import com.google.api.client.http.HttpResponseException;
@@ -13,6 +16,12 @@ import com.google.api.services.tasks.v1.Tasks.TasksOperations.Move;
 import com.google.api.services.tasks.v1.model.Task;
 import com.google.api.services.tasks.v1.model.TaskList;
 import com.google.api.services.tasks.v1.model.TaskLists;
+import com.timsu.astrid.R;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.Autowired;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.ContextManager;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.DependencyInjectionService;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.service.ExceptionService;
+import com.todoroo.andlib.utility.DialogUtilities;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.gtasks.auth.GtasksTokenValidator;
 
 /**
@@ -27,11 +36,14 @@ public class GtasksService {
     private GoogleAccessProtectedResource accessProtectedResource;
     private String token;
 
+    @Autowired ExceptionService exceptionService;
+
     private static final String API_KEY = "AIzaSyCIYZTBo6haRHxmiplZsfYdagFEpaiFnAk"; // non-production API key
 
     public static final String AUTH_TOKEN_TYPE = "oauth2:https://www.googleapis.com/auth/tasks";
 
     public GtasksService(String authToken) {
+        DependencyInjectionService.getInstance().inject(this);
         authenticate(authToken);
     }
 
@@ -45,7 +57,7 @@ public class GtasksService {
     }
 
     //If we get a 401 or 403, try revalidating the auth token before bailing
-    private synchronized void handleException(IOException e) {
+    private synchronized void handleException(IOException e) throws IOException {
         if (e instanceof HttpResponseException) {
             HttpResponseException h = (HttpResponseException)e;
             if (h.response.statusCode == 401 || h.response.statusCode == 403) {
@@ -53,6 +65,16 @@ public class GtasksService {
                 if (token != null) {
                     accessProtectedResource.setAccessToken(token);
                 }
+            } else if (h.response.statusCode == 503) { // 503 errors are generally either 1) quota limit reached or 2) problems on Google's end
+                final Context context = ContextManager.getContext();
+                String message = context.getString(R.string.gtasks_error_backend);
+                exceptionService.reportError(message, h);
+
+                if(context instanceof Activity) {
+                    DialogUtilities.okDialog((Activity)context,
+                            message, null);
+                }
+                throw h;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/sync/GtasksSyncProvider.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/sync/GtasksSyncProvider.java
index 0db3943ae..fd4a48bcd 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/sync/GtasksSyncProvider.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/gtasks/sync/GtasksSyncProvider.java
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ public class GtasksSyncProvider extends SyncProvider<GtasksTaskContainer> {
             syncSuccess = true;
         } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
         	// occurs when application was closed
-        } catch (Exception e) {
+        } catch (IOException e) {
             handleException("gtasks-sync", e, true); //$NON-NLS-1$
         } finally {
             StatisticsService.reportEvent("gtasks-sync-finished",
@@ -207,8 +207,7 @@ public class GtasksSyncProvider extends SyncProvider<GtasksTaskContainer> {
         }
     }
 
-    private void getActiveList(TaskLists taskView) throws JSONException,
-            IOException {
+    private void getActiveList(TaskLists taskView) throws IOException {
         String listId;
         if(taskView.items.size() == 0) {
             if(Constants.DEBUG)
@@ -298,7 +297,7 @@ public class GtasksSyncProvider extends SyncProvider<GtasksTaskContainer> {
      * Populate SyncData data structure
      * @throws JSONException
      */
-    private SyncData<GtasksTaskContainer> populateSyncData() throws JSONException, IOException {
+    private SyncData<GtasksTaskContainer> populateSyncData() throws IOException {
 
         // fetch remote tasks
         ArrayList<GtasksTaskContainer> remoteTasks = readAllRemoteTasks(false);
diff --git a/astrid/res/values/strings-gtasks.xml b/astrid/res/values/strings-gtasks.xml
index 4162e5e0a..94549a768 100644
--- a/astrid/res/values/strings-gtasks.xml
+++ b/astrid/res/values/strings-gtasks.xml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 
     <!-- Error Message when we receive a HTTP 401 Unauthorized -->    
     <string name="gtasks_GLA_errorAuth">Error authenticating! Please check your username and password in your phone\'s account manager</string>
-
+    
     <!-- Error Message when we receive a HTTP 401 Unauthorized multiple times -->    
     <string name="gtasks_GLA_errorAuth_captcha">You may have encountered a captcha. 
     Try logging in from the browser, then come back to try again:</string>
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@
     
     <!-- title for notification tray when synchronizing -->
     <string name="gtasks_notification_title">Astrid: Google Tasks</string>
+
+    <!-- Error Message when we receive a HTTP 503 error -->
+    <string name="gtasks_error_backend">Google\'s Task API is in beta and has encountered an error. The service may be down, please try again later.</string>
+
+    
         
 </resources>