diff --git a/cps/admin.py b/cps/admin.py
index 10f9a5b4..5cd31f18 100644
--- a/cps/admin.py
+++ b/cps/admin.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def list_users():
     order = request.args.get("order", "").lower()
     state = None
     if sort == "state":
-        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state"))
+        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state", "[]"))
 
     if sort != "state" and order:
         order = text(sort + " " + order)
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ def edit_list_user(param):
                 user.email = check_email(vals['value'])
             elif param == 'kindle_mail':
                 user.kindle_mail = valid_email(vals['value']) if vals['value'] else ""
-            elif param == 'role':
+            elif param.endswith('role'):
                 if user.name == "Guest" and int(vals['field_index']) in \
                              [constants.ROLE_ADMIN, constants.ROLE_PASSWD, constants.ROLE_EDIT_SHELFS]:
                     raise Exception(_("Guest can't have this role"))
@@ -367,7 +367,9 @@ def edit_list_user(param):
                         if not ub.session.query(ub.User).\
                                filter(ub.User.role.op('&')(constants.ROLE_ADMIN) == constants.ROLE_ADMIN,
                                       ub.User.id != user.id).count():
-                            return _(u"No admin user remaining, can't remove admin role", nick=user.name), 400
+                            return Response(json.dumps({'type': "danger",
+                                                        'message':_(u"No admin user remaining, can't remove admin role",
+                                                                    nick=user.name)}), mimetype='application/json')
                     user.role &= ~int(vals['field_index'])
             elif param == 'sidebar_view':
                 if user.name == "Guest" and int(vals['field_index']) == constants.SIDEBAR_READ_AND_UNREAD:
diff --git a/cps/static/js/table.js b/cps/static/js/table.js
index 7a07d82d..7c4b04a7 100644
--- a/cps/static/js/table.js
+++ b/cps/static/js/table.js
@@ -612,25 +612,30 @@ function checkboxFormatter(value, row, index){
 
 function checkboxChange(checkbox, userId, field, field_index) {
     $.ajax({
-        method:"post",
+        method: "post",
         url: window.location.pathname + "/../../ajax/editlistusers/" + field,
-        data: {"pk":userId, "field_index":field_index, "value": checkbox.checked}
-        /*<div className="editable-buttons">
-            <button type="button" className="btn btn-default btn-sm editable-cancel"><i
-                className="glyphicon glyphicon-remove"></i></button>
-        </div>*/
-        /*<div className="editable-error-block help-block" style="">Text to show</div>*/
-    });
-    $.ajax({
-        method:"get",
-        url: window.location.pathname + "/../../ajax/listusers",
-        async: true,
-        timeout: 900,
-        success:function(data) {
-            $("#user-table").bootstrapTable("load", data);
+        data: {"pk": userId, "field_index": field_index, "value": checkbox.checked},
+        success: function (data) {
+            if (!jQuery.isEmptyObject(data)) {
+                $("#flash_success").remove();
+                $("#flash_danger").remove();
+                $( ".navbar" ).after( '<div class="row-fluid text-center" style="margin-top: -20px;">' +
+                    '<div id="flash_'+data.type+'" class="alert alert-'+data.type+'">'+data.message+'</div>' +
+                    '</div>');
+            }
+            $.ajax({
+                method: "get",
+                url: window.location.pathname + "/../../ajax/listusers",
+                async: true,
+                timeout: 900,
+                success: function (data) {
+                    $("#user-table").bootstrapTable("load", data);
+                }
+            });
         }
     });
 }
+
 function deactivateHeaderButtons(e) {
     $("#user_delete_selection").addClass("disabled");
     $("#user_delete_selection").attr("aria-disabled", true);
diff --git a/cps/web.py b/cps/web.py
index 528e285a..cf488986 100644
--- a/cps/web.py
+++ b/cps/web.py
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ def list_books():
     state = None
 
     if sort == "state":
-        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state"))
+        state = json.loads(request.args.get("state", "[]"))
 
     if sort != "state" and order:
         order = [text(sort + " " + order)]