diff --git a/src/or/directory.c b/src/or/directory.c
index 9e92b485b7..b02ec7f6b1 100644
--- a/src/or/directory.c
+++ b/src/or/directory.c
@@ -1196,12 +1196,11 @@ directory_handle_command_post(connection_t *conn, char *headers,
         log_fn(LOG_NOTICE,"Rejected descriptor published by %s.", origin);
         break;
       case 0:
-        /* descriptor was well-formed but server has not been approved */
-        write_http_status_line(conn, 200, msg?msg:"Unverified server descriptor accepted");
+        write_http_status_line(conn, 200, msg?msg:"Server okay, but not accepted.");
         break;
       case 1:
         dirserv_get_directory(&cp, 0); /* rebuild and write to disk */
-        write_http_status_line(conn, 200, msg?msg:"Verified server descriptor accepted");
+        write_http_status_line(conn, 200, msg?msg:"Server descriptor accepted");
         break;
     }
     goto done;
diff --git a/src/or/dirserv.c b/src/or/dirserv.c
index a9910a3ed1..a5521314bf 100644
--- a/src/or/dirserv.c
+++ b/src/or/dirserv.c
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ dirserv_router_has_valid_address(routerinfo_t *ri)
   return 0;
 }
 
+/** DOCDOC */
 int
 dirserv_wants_to_reject_router(routerinfo_t *ri, int *verified,
                                const char **msg)
@@ -329,13 +330,14 @@ dirserv_wants_to_reject_router(routerinfo_t *ri, int *verified,
  * origin of this descriptor, or to NULL.
  *
  * Return 1 if descriptor is well-formed and accepted;
- *  0 if well-formed and server is unapproved but accepted;
+ *  0 if well-formed and server is well-formed but rejected for timeliness.
  * -1 if it looks vaguely like a router descriptor but rejected;
  * -2 if we can't find a router descriptor in *desc.
  */
 int
 dirserv_add_descriptor(const char *desc, const char **msg)
 {
+  int r;
   routerinfo_t *ri = NULL;
   tor_assert(msg);
   *msg = NULL;
@@ -347,14 +349,18 @@ dirserv_add_descriptor(const char *desc, const char **msg)
     *msg = "Rejected: Couldn't parse server descriptor.";
     return -1;
   }
-  if (router_add_to_routerlist(ri, msg)) {
-    return -1;
+  if ((r = router_add_to_routerlist(ri, msg))<0) {
+    return r == -1 ? 0 : -1;
   } else {
     smartlist_t *changed = smartlist_create();
     smartlist_add(changed, ri);
     control_event_descriptors_changed(changed);
     smartlist_free(changed);
-    return ri->is_verified ? 1 : 0;
+    if (!*msg) {
+      *msg =  ri->is_verified ? "Verified server descriptor accepted" :
+        "Unverified server descriptor accepted";
+    }
+    return 1;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/or/routerlist.c b/src/or/routerlist.c
index 207d514556..36eca55b5f 100644
--- a/src/or/routerlist.c
+++ b/src/or/routerlist.c
@@ -855,11 +855,15 @@ router_mark_as_down(const char *digest)
  * older entries (if any) with the same name.  Note: Callers should not hold
  * their pointers to <b>router</b> if this function fails; <b>router</b>
  * will either be inserted into the routerlist or freed.  Returns 0 if the
- * router was added; -1 if it was not.
+ * router was added; less than 0 if it was not.
  *
- * If we're returning -1 and <b>msg</b> is not NULL, then assign to
+ * If we're returning an error and <b>msg</b> is not NULL, then assign to
  * *<b>msg</b> a static string describing the reason for refusing the
  * routerinfo.
+ *
+ * If the return value is less than -1, there was a problem with the
+ * routerinfo.  If the return value is equal to -1, then the routerinfo was
+ * fine, but out-of-date.
  */
 int
 router_add_to_routerlist(routerinfo_t *router, const char **msg)
@@ -878,7 +882,7 @@ router_add_to_routerlist(routerinfo_t *router, const char **msg)
 
   if (authdir) {
     if (dirserv_wants_to_reject_router(router, &authdir_verified, msg))
-      return -1;
+      return -2;
     router->is_verified = authdir_verified;
     if (tor_version_as_new_as(router->platform,"0.1.0.2-rc"))
       router->is_verified = 1;
@@ -943,7 +947,7 @@ router_add_to_routerlist(routerinfo_t *router, const char **msg)
                router->nickname);
         routerinfo_free(router);
         if (msg) *msg = "Already have verified router with same nickname and different key.";
-        return -1;
+        return -2;
       }
     }
   }