diff --git a/i18n/en-US.yml b/i18n/en-US.yml
index 613156575..8c438529b 100644
--- a/i18n/en-US.yml
+++ b/i18n/en-US.yml
@@ -34,8 +34,14 @@ actions:
     setPaymentError: "Error setting payment info:"
     setRequestStatusError: "Error setting request status:"
   location:
+    deniedAccessAlert: >
+      Access to your location is blocked.
+
+      To use your current location, enable location permissions from your
+      browser, and reload the page. 
     geolocationNotSupportedError: Geolocation not supported by your browser
     unknownPositionError: Unknown error getting position
+    userDeniedPermission: User denied permission
   map:
     currentLocation: (Current Location)
   user:
diff --git a/i18n/fr.yml b/i18n/fr.yml
index 742db4275..5c41e72fc 100644
--- a/i18n/fr.yml
+++ b/i18n/fr.yml
@@ -38,8 +38,14 @@ actions:
     setPaymentError: "Erreur sur les coordonnées de paiement :"
     setRequestStatusError: "Erreur sur l'état de la requête :"
   location:
+    deniedAccessAlert: >
+      L'accès à votre position est refusé.
+
+      Pour utiliser votre emplacement actuel, permettez-en l'accès depuis votre
+      navigateur, et ouvrez de nouveau cette page.
     geolocationNotSupportedError: La géolocalisation n'est pas prise en charge par votre navigateur.
     unknownPositionError: Erreur inconnue lors de la détection de votre emplacement.
+    userDeniedPermission: Refusé par l'utilisateur
   map:
     currentLocation: (Emplacement actuel)
   user:
@@ -178,7 +184,7 @@ components:
   AdvancedOptions:
     bannedRoutes: Choisissez les lignes à éviter…
     bikeTolerance: Tolérance au vélo
-    preferredRoutes: Choisissez les lignes preferées
+    preferredRoutes: Choisissez les lignes préferées
     walkTolerance: Tolérance à la marche
   AfterSignInScreen:
     mainTitle: Redirection...
diff --git a/lib/actions/location.tsx b/lib/actions/location.tsx
index a336efb18..c62e9b740 100644
--- a/lib/actions/location.tsx
+++ b/lib/actions/location.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import { createAction } from 'redux-actions'
 import { Dispatch } from 'redux'
 import { IntlShape } from 'react-intl'
+import { isMobile } from '@opentripplanner/core-utils/lib/ui'
 
 import { setLocationToCurrent } from './map'
 
@@ -47,9 +48,29 @@ export function getCurrentPosition(
         // On error
         (error) => {
           console.log('error getting current position', error)
-          // FIXME, analyze error code to produce better error message.
-          // See https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/GeolocationPositionError
-          dispatch(receivedPositionError({ error }))
+          // On desktop, after user clicks "Use location" from the location fields,
+          // show an alert and explain if location is blocked.
+          // TODO: Consider moving the handling of unavailable location to the location-field component.
+          if (!isMobile() && error.code === 1) {
+            window.alert(
+              intl.formatMessage({
+                id: 'actions.location.deniedAccessAlert'
+              })
+            )
+          }
+          const newError = { ...error }
+          if (error.code === 1) {
+            // i18n for user-denied location message (error.code = 1 on secure origins).
+            if (
+              window.location.protocol === 'https:' ||
+              window.location.host.startsWith('localhost:')
+            ) {
+              newError.message = intl.formatMessage({
+                id: 'actions.location.userDeniedPermission'
+              })
+            }
+          }
+          dispatch(receivedPositionError({ error: newError }))
         },
         // Options
         { enableHighAccuracy: true }
diff --git a/lib/components/app/responsive-webapp.js b/lib/components/app/responsive-webapp.js
index e135c16b1..0ae74b8a7 100644
--- a/lib/components/app/responsive-webapp.js
+++ b/lib/components/app/responsive-webapp.js
@@ -153,11 +153,9 @@ class ResponsiveWebapp extends Component {
       }
     }
 
-    // Test location availability on load,
-    // so it is reported correctly by the location fields.
-    getCurrentPosition(intl)
-
     if (isMobile()) {
+      // Test location availability on load
+      getCurrentPosition(intl)
       // Also, watch for changes in position on mobile
       navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(
         // On success