diff --git a/lib/weblib.php b/lib/weblib.php
index 09db3106409..b274c9aeb76 100644
--- a/lib/weblib.php
+++ b/lib/weblib.php
@@ -3625,6 +3625,8 @@ function print_scale_menu_helpbutton($courseid, $scale) {
 function error ($message, $link='') {
     global $CFG, $SESSION;
 
+    header('HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found');
+
     print_header(get_string('error'));
     echo '<br />';
 
@@ -3642,6 +3644,9 @@ function error ($message, $link='') {
     }
     print_continue($link);
     print_footer();
+    for ($i=0;$i<512;$i++) {  // Padding to help IE work with 404
+        echo ' ';
+    }
     die;
 }