     @problem_list_container.toggle(@list_view)
     if @backend.mock_backend
       @message = @message + "<p>NOTE: Mocking backend.</p>"
-    @hide_if_empty(@message_container, @message)
-    @hide_if_empty(@error_container, @error_msg)
+    @message_container.html(@message)
+    @error_container.html(@error_msg)
+    @message_container.toggle(@message != "")
+    @error_container.toggle(@error_msg != "")
 
 
     # only show the grading elements when we are not in list view or the state

          response =
            success: true
            problem_name: 'Problem 2'
            num_left: 2
            num_total: 5
            prompt: 'This is a fake second problem'
            submission: 'This is the best submission ever! ' + @mock_cnt

  no_more: (message) ->
    @prompt = null
    @prompt_name = ''
    @num_graded = 0
    @num_total = 0
    @submission = null
    @rubric = null
