diff --git a/jupyterhub/handlers/pages.py b/jupyterhub/handlers/pages.py
index e97857d3..420423a7 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/handlers/pages.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/handlers/pages.py
@@ -281,13 +281,18 @@ class SpawnPendingHandler(BaseHandler):
             # Implicit spawn on /user/:name is not allowed if the user's last spawn failed.
             # We should point the user to Home if the most recent spawn failed.
             exc = spawner._spawn_future.exception()
-            self.log.error(
-                "Preventing implicit spawn for %s because last spawn failed: %s",
-                spawner._log_name,
-                exc,
+            self.log.error("Previous spawn for %s failed: %s", spawner._log_name, exc)
+            spawn_url = url_path_join(self.hub.base_url, "spawn", user.escaped_name)
+            self.set_status(500)
+            html = self.render_template(
+                "not_running.html",
+                user=user,
+                server_name=server_name,
+                spawn_url=spawn_url,
+                failed=True,
             )
-            # raise a copy because each time an Exception object is re-raised, its traceback grows
-            raise copy.copy(exc).with_traceback(exc.__traceback__)
+            self.finish(html)
+            return
 
         # Check for pending events. This should usually be the case
         # when we are on this page.
diff --git a/share/jupyterhub/templates/not_running.html b/share/jupyterhub/templates/not_running.html
index c2ba5512..8df72546 100644
--- a/share/jupyterhub/templates/not_running.html
+++ b/share/jupyterhub/templates/not_running.html
@@ -5,12 +5,33 @@
 <div class="container">
   <div class="row">
     <div class="text-center">
+      {% block heading %}
+      <h1>
+      {% if failed %}
+      Spawn failed
+      {% else %}
+      Server not running
+      {% endif %}
+      </h1>
+      {% endblock %}
       {% block message %}
-      <p>Server {{ server_name }} is not running. Would you like to start it?</p>
+      <p>
+        {% if failed %}
+        The latest attempt to start your server {{ server_name }} has failed.
+        Would you like to retry starting it?
+        {% else %}
+        Your server {{ server_name }} is not running. Would you like to start it?
+        {% endif %}
+      </p>
       {% endblock %}
       {% block start_button %}
       <a id="start" role="button" class="btn btn-lg btn-primary" href="{{ spawn_url }}">
-      Launch Server {{ server_name }}
+        {% if failed %}
+        Relaunch
+        {% else %}
+        Launch
+        {% endif %}
+        Server {{ server_name }}
       </a>
       {% endblock %}
     </div>