diff --git a/site/src/api/errors.ts b/site/src/api/errors.ts
index 80c93dfe6dada..f16f422154848 100644
--- a/site/src/api/errors.ts
+++ b/site/src/api/errors.ts
@@ -44,3 +44,12 @@ export const mapApiErrorToFieldErrors = (apiErrorResponse: ApiErrorResponse): Fi
 
   return result
 }
+
+/**
+ *
+ * @param error
+ * @param defaultMessage
+ * @returns error's message if ApiError or Error, else defaultMessage
+ */
+export const getErrorMessage = (error: Error | ApiError | unknown, defaultMessage: string): string =>
+  isApiError(error) ? error.response.data.message : error instanceof Error ? error.message : defaultMessage
diff --git a/site/src/pages/UsersPage/UsersPage.test.tsx b/site/src/pages/UsersPage/UsersPage.test.tsx
index 3e4b300b101af..086990a920d2e 100644
--- a/site/src/pages/UsersPage/UsersPage.test.tsx
+++ b/site/src/pages/UsersPage/UsersPage.test.tsx
@@ -272,6 +272,26 @@ describe("Users Page", () => {
         expect(API.updateUserRoles).toBeCalledTimes(1)
         expect(API.updateUserRoles).toBeCalledWith([...currentRoles, MockAuditorRole.name], MockUser.id)
       })
+      it("shows an error from the backend", async () => {
+        render(
+          <>
+            <UsersPage />
+            <GlobalSnackbar />
+          </>,
+        )
+
+        server.use(
+          rest.put(`/api/v2/users/${MockUser.id}/roles`, (req, res, ctx) => {
+            return res(ctx.status(401), ctx.json({ message: "message from the backend" }))
+          }),
+        )
+
+        // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-empty-function
+        await updateUserRole(() => {}, MockAuditorRole)
+
+        // Check if the error message is displayed
+        await screen.findByText("message from the backend")
+      })
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/site/src/xServices/users/usersXService.ts b/site/src/xServices/users/usersXService.ts
index c21219ae6e1be..7566f17ed4623 100644
--- a/site/src/xServices/users/usersXService.ts
+++ b/site/src/xServices/users/usersXService.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { assign, createMachine } from "xstate"
 import * as API from "../../api/api"
-import { ApiError, FieldErrors, isApiError, mapApiErrorToFieldErrors } from "../../api/errors"
+import { ApiError, FieldErrors, getErrorMessage, isApiError, mapApiErrorToFieldErrors } from "../../api/errors"
 import * as TypesGen from "../../api/typesGenerated"
 import { displayError, displaySuccess } from "../../components/GlobalSnackbar/utils"
 import { generateRandomString } from "../../util/random"
@@ -292,17 +292,20 @@ export const usersMachine = createMachine(
       displaySuspendSuccess: () => {
         displaySuccess(Language.suspendUserSuccess)
       },
-      displaySuspendedErrorMessage: () => {
-        displayError(Language.suspendUserError)
+      displaySuspendedErrorMessage: (context) => {
+        const message = getErrorMessage(context.suspendUserError, Language.suspendUserError)
+        displayError(message)
       },
       displayResetPasswordSuccess: () => {
         displaySuccess(Language.resetUserPasswordSuccess)
       },
-      displayResetPasswordErrorMessage: () => {
-        displayError(Language.resetUserPasswordError)
+      displayResetPasswordErrorMessage: (context) => {
+        const message = getErrorMessage(context.resetUserPasswordError, Language.resetUserPasswordError)
+        displayError(message)
       },
-      displayUpdateRolesErrorMessage: () => {
-        displayError(Language.updateUserRolesError)
+      displayUpdateRolesErrorMessage: (context) => {
+        const message = getErrorMessage(context.updateUserRolesError, Language.updateUserRolesError)
+        displayError(message)
       },
       generateRandomPassword: assign({
         newUserPassword: (_) => generateRandomString(12),