diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/translation_helpers.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/translation_helpers.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8f5a43bf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/translation_helpers.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2019 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Web.TranslationHelpers do
+  defmacro render_error(conn, status, msgid, bindings \\ Macro.escape(%{})) do
+    quote do
+      require Pleroma.Web.Gettext
+
+      unquote(conn)
+      |> Plug.Conn.put_status(unquote(status))
+      |> Phoenix.Controller.json(%{
+        error: Pleroma.Web.Gettext.dgettext("errors", unquote(msgid), unquote(bindings))
+      })
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/web.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/web.ex
index 66813e4dd..b42f6887e 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/web.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/web.ex
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web do
   def controller do
     quote do
       use Phoenix.Controller, namespace: Pleroma.Web
+
       import Plug.Conn
       import Pleroma.Web.Gettext
       import Pleroma.Web.Router.Helpers
+      import Pleroma.Web.TranslationHelpers
 
       plug(:set_put_layout)