diff --git a/lib/error.js b/lib/error.js
index db0b2dcbc..1764fc8e9 100644
--- a/lib/error.js
+++ b/lib/error.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 var inherits = require('util').inherits
+var messages = require('joi/lib/language').errors
 
 var DEFAULTS = {
   code: 500,
@@ -75,7 +76,11 @@ AppError.translate = function (response) {
     }
   }
   else if (payload.validation) {
-    error = AppError.invalidRequestParameter(payload.validation)
+    if (payload.message && payload.message.indexOf(messages.any.required) >= 0) {
+      error = AppError.missingRequestParameter(payload.validation.keys[0])
+    } else {
+      error = AppError.invalidRequestParameter(payload.validation)
+    }
   }
   else if (payload.statusCode === 400 && TOO_LARGE.test(payload.message)) {
     error = AppError.requestBodyTooLarge()
diff --git a/test/local/error_tests.js b/test/local/error_tests.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09a0c02bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/local/error_tests.js
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/* This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+ * License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+ * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
+
+var test = require('../ptaptest')
+var messages = require('joi/lib/language')
+var AppError = require('../../lib/error')
+
+test(
+  'tightly-coupled joi message hack is okay',
+  function (t) {
+    t.equal(typeof messages.errors.any.required, 'string')
+    t.not(messages.errors.any.required, '')
+    t.end()
+  }
+)
+
+test(
+  'exported functions exist',
+  function (t) {
+    t.equal(typeof AppError, 'function')
+    t.equal(AppError.length, 3)
+    t.equal(typeof AppError.translate, 'function')
+    t.equal(AppError.translate.length, 1)
+    t.equal(typeof AppError.invalidRequestParameter, 'function')
+    t.equal(AppError.invalidRequestParameter.length, 1)
+    t.equal(typeof AppError.missingRequestParameter, 'function')
+    t.equal(AppError.missingRequestParameter.length, 1)
+    t.end()
+  }
+)
+
+test(
+  'error.translate with missing required parameters',
+  function (t) {
+    var result = AppError.translate({
+      output: {
+        payload: {
+          message: 'foo' + messages.errors.any.required,
+          validation: {
+            keys: [ 'bar', 'baz' ]
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    })
+    t.ok(result instanceof AppError, 'instanceof AppError')
+    t.equal(result.errno, 108)
+    t.equal(result.message, 'Missing parameter in request body: bar')
+    t.equal(result.output.statusCode, 400)
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.error, 'Bad Request')
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.errno, result.errno)
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.message, result.message)
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.param, 'bar')
+    t.end()
+  }
+)
+
+test(
+  'error.translate with invalid parameter',
+  function (t) {
+    var result = AppError.translate({
+      output: {
+        payload: {
+          validation: 'foo'
+        }
+      }
+    })
+    t.ok(result instanceof AppError, 'instanceof AppError')
+    t.equal(result.errno, 107)
+    t.equal(result.message, 'Invalid parameter in request body')
+    t.equal(result.output.statusCode, 400)
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.error, 'Bad Request')
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.errno, result.errno)
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.message, result.message)
+    t.equal(result.output.payload.validation, 'foo')
+    t.end()
+  }
+)
+