diff --git a/modules/backend-rpc.php b/modules/backend-rpc.php
index fe4b6d302..d494cab41 100644
--- a/modules/backend-rpc.php
+++ b/modules/backend-rpc.php
@@ -668,23 +668,20 @@
 		}
 
 		if ($subop == "catchupFeed") {
-
 			$feed_id = db_escape_string($_REQUEST['feed_id']);
 			$is_cat = db_escape_string($_REQUEST['is_cat']);
 
-			print "<rpc-reply>";
-
 			catchup_feed($link, $feed_id, $is_cat);
 
-			print "</rpc-reply>";
-
 			return;
 		}
 
 		if ($subop == "sendEmail") {
+			header("Content-Type: text/plain");
+
 			$secretkey = $_REQUEST['secretkey'];
 
-			print "<rpc-reply>";
+			$reply = array();
 
 			if (DIGEST_ENABLE && $_SESSION['email_secretkey'] && 
 						$secretkey == $_SESSION['email_secretkey']) {
@@ -724,18 +721,17 @@
 				$rc = $mail->Send();
 
 				if (!$rc) {
-					print "<error><![CDATA[" . $mail->ErrorInfo . "]]></error>";
+					$reply['error'] =  $mail->ErrorInfo;
 				} else {
 					save_email_address($link, db_escape_string($destination));
-					print "<message>UPDATE_COUNTERS</message>";
+					$reply['message'] = "UPDATE_COUNTERS";
 				}
 
 			} else {
-				print "<error>Not authorized.</error>";
+				$reply['error'] = "Not authorized.";
 			}
 
-			print "</rpc-reply>";
-
+			print json_encode($reply);
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/viewfeed.js b/viewfeed.js
index 7919fe356..0823ed321 100644
--- a/viewfeed.js
+++ b/viewfeed.js
@@ -1842,11 +1842,13 @@ function emailArticle(id) {
 					new Ajax.Request("backend.php", {
 						parameters: dojo.objectToQuery(this.attr('value')),
 						onComplete: function(transport) { 
+
+							var reply = JSON.parse(transport.responseText);
 		
-							var error = transport.responseXML.getElementsByTagName('error')[0];
+							var error = reply['error'];
 			
 							if (error) {
-								alert(__('Error sending email:') + ' ' + error.firstChild.nodeValue);
+								alert(__('Error sending email:') + ' ' + error);
 							} else {
 								notify_info('Your message has been sent.');
 								dialog.hide();