diff --git a/tests/test_gateways.py b/tests/test_gateways.py
index 1a43fe08f..7f9a15306 100644
--- a/tests/test_gateways.py
+++ b/tests/test_gateways.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
 from urllib.parse import urlencode
 
+from django.contrib.messages import get_messages
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from django.urls import reverse
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@
 
 from two_factor.gateways.fake import Fake
 from two_factor.gateways.twilio.gateway import Twilio
+from two_factor.middleware.threadlocals import get_current_request
 
 
 class TwilioGatewayTest(TestCase):
@@ -76,6 +78,39 @@ def test_gateway(self, client):
                     from_='+456', to='+123', method='GET', timeout=15,
                     url='http://testserver/twilio/inbound/two_factor/%s/?locale=en-gb' % code)
 
+    @override_settings(
+        TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID='SID',
+        TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN='TOKEN',
+        TWILIO_CALLER_ID='+456',
+        TWILIO_ERROR_MESSAGE='Error sending SMS'
+    )
+    @patch('two_factor.gateways.twilio.gateway.Client')
+    def test_gateway_error_handled(self, client):
+        twilio = Twilio()
+        client.assert_called_with('SID', 'TOKEN')
+
+        client.return_value.messages.create.side_effect = Mock(side_effect=Exception('Test'))
+        code = '123456'
+        twilio.send_sms(device=Mock(number=PhoneNumber.from_string('+123')), token=code)
+        request = get_current_request()
+        storage = get_messages(request)
+        assert 'Error sending SMS' in [str(message) for message in storage]
+
+    @override_settings(
+        TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID='SID',
+        TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN='TOKEN',
+        TWILIO_CALLER_ID='+456',
+    )
+    @patch('two_factor.gateways.twilio.gateway.Client')
+    def test_gateway_error_not_handled(self, client):
+        twilio = Twilio()
+        client.assert_called_with('SID', 'TOKEN')
+
+        client.return_value.messages.create.side_effect = Mock(side_effect=Exception('Test'))
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            code = '123456'
+            twilio.send_sms(device=Mock(number=PhoneNumber.from_string('+123')), token=code)
+
     @override_settings(
         TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID='SID',
         TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN='TOKEN',
diff --git a/two_factor/gateways/twilio/gateway.py b/two_factor/gateways/twilio/gateway.py
index 8b1bde62b..4a2b33904 100644
--- a/two_factor/gateways/twilio/gateway.py
+++ b/two_factor/gateways/twilio/gateway.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from urllib.parse import urlencode
 
 from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib import messages
 from django.urls import reverse
 from django.utils import translation
 from django.utils.translation import gettext, pgettext
@@ -33,6 +34,12 @@ class Twilio(object):
       Should be set to a verified phone number. Twilio_ differentiates between
       numbers verified for making phone calls and sending text messages.
 
+    Optionally you may set an error message to display in case of error
+    sending a SMS.
+
+    ``TWILIO_ERROR_MESSAGE``
+      Should be set to a string with a custom text.
+
     .. _Twilio: http://www.twilio.com/
     """
     def __init__(self):
@@ -52,11 +59,19 @@ def make_call(self, device, token):
                                  url=uri, method='GET', timeout=15)
 
     def send_sms(self, device, token):
-        body = gettext('Your authentication token is %s') % token
-        self.client.messages.create(
-            to=device.number.as_e164,
-            from_=getattr(settings, 'TWILIO_CALLER_ID'),
-            body=body)
+        body = ugettext('Your authentication token is %s') % token
+        try:
+            self.client.messages.create(
+                to=device.number.as_e164,
+                from_=getattr(settings, 'TWILIO_CALLER_ID'),
+                body=body)
+        except Exception:
+            twilio_error_message = getattr(settings, 'TWILIO_ERROR_MESSAGE', None)
+            if twilio_error_message:
+                request = get_current_request()
+                messages.add_message(request, messages.ERROR, twilio_error_message)
+            else:
+                raise
 
 
 def validate_voice_locale(locale):