diff --git a/common/eda_draw_frame.cpp b/common/eda_draw_frame.cpp
index db95971e95..b8821c76ca 100644
--- a/common/eda_draw_frame.cpp
+++ b/common/eda_draw_frame.cpp
@@ -621,6 +621,18 @@ void EDA_DRAW_FRAME::SetMsgPanel( const MSG_PANEL_ITEMS& aList )
 }
 
 
+void EDA_DRAW_FRAME::SetMsgPanel(
+        const wxString& aTextUpper, const wxString& aTextLower, int aPadding )
+{
+    if( m_messagePanel )
+    {
+        m_messagePanel->EraseMsgBox();
+
+        m_messagePanel->AppendMessage( aTextUpper, aTextLower, aPadding );
+    }
+}
+
+
 void EDA_DRAW_FRAME::SetMsgPanel( EDA_ITEM* aItem )
 {
     wxCHECK_RET( aItem, wxT( "Invalid EDA_ITEM pointer.  Bad programmer." ) );
diff --git a/eeschema/files-io.cpp b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
index db7bf1f605..992cf72346 100644
--- a/eeschema/files-io.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/files-io.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::SaveEEFile( SCH_SHEET* aSheet, bool aSaveUnderNewName )
         DisplayError( this, msg );
 
         msg.Printf( _( "Failed to create temporary file \"%s\"" ), tempFile.GetFullPath() );
-        AppendMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg, CYAN );
+        SetMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg );
 
         // In case we started a file but didn't fully write it, clean up
         wxRemoveFile( tempFile.GetFullPath() );
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::SaveEEFile( SCH_SHEET* aSheet, bool aSaveUnderNewName )
             DisplayError( this, msg );
 
             msg.Printf( _( "Failed to rename temporary file \"%s\"" ), tempFile.GetFullPath() );
-            AppendMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg, CYAN );
+            SetMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg );
         }
     }
 
@@ -284,7 +284,6 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::OpenProjectFiles( const std::vector<wxString>& aFileSet, in
     }
 
     SetStatusText( wxEmptyString );
-    ClearMsgPanel();
 
     SCH_IO_MGR::SCH_FILE_T schFileType = SCH_IO_MGR::GuessPluginTypeFromSchPath( fullFileName );
 
@@ -399,7 +398,7 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::OpenProjectFiles( const std::vector<wxString>& aFileSet, in
             DisplayError( this, msg );
 
             msg.Printf( _( "Failed to load \"%s\"" ), fullFileName );
-            AppendMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg, CYAN );
+            SetMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg );
 
             return false;
         }
@@ -996,7 +995,7 @@ bool SCH_EDIT_FRAME::importFile( const wxString& aFileName, int aFileType )
             DisplayError( this, msg );
 
             msg.Printf( _( "Failed to load \"%s\"" ), aFileName );
-            AppendMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg, CYAN );
+            SetMsgPanel( wxEmptyString, msg );
 
             return false;
         }
diff --git a/include/eda_draw_frame.h b/include/eda_draw_frame.h
index 617cee5f04..b412fa9bfd 100644
--- a/include/eda_draw_frame.h
+++ b/include/eda_draw_frame.h
@@ -431,6 +431,15 @@ public:
     void SetMsgPanel( const std::vector< MSG_PANEL_ITEM >& aList );
     void SetMsgPanel( EDA_ITEM* aItem );
 
+    /**
+     * Helper function that erases the msg panel and then appends a single message
+     *
+     * @param aTextUpper - The message upper text.
+     * @param aTextLower - The message lower text.
+     * @param aPadding - Number of spaces to pad between messages.
+     */
+    void SetMsgPanel( const wxString& aTextUpper, const wxString& aTextLower, int aPadding = 6 );
+
     /**
      * Redraw the message panel.
      */
diff --git a/pcbnew/files.cpp b/pcbnew/files.cpp
index 5173ef8d26..f7f3bb12a1 100644
--- a/pcbnew/files.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/files.cpp
@@ -845,7 +845,6 @@ bool PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SavePcbFile( const wxString& aFileName, bool addToHistory,
 
     GetSettingsManager()->SaveProject();
 
-    ClearMsgPanel();
 
     wxString    upperTxt;
     wxString    lowerTxt;
@@ -868,7 +867,7 @@ bool PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SavePcbFile( const wxString& aFileName, bool addToHistory,
 
         lowerTxt.Printf( _( "Failed to create temporary file \"%s\"" ), tempFile.GetFullPath() );
 
-        AppendMsgPanel( upperTxt, lowerTxt, CYAN );
+        SetMsgPanel( upperTxt, lowerTxt );
 
         // In case we started a file but didn't fully write it, clean up
         wxRemoveFile( tempFile.GetFullPath() );
@@ -887,7 +886,7 @@ bool PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SavePcbFile( const wxString& aFileName, bool addToHistory,
 
         lowerTxt.Printf( _( "Failed to rename temporary file \"%s\"" ), tempFile.GetFullPath() );
 
-        AppendMsgPanel( upperTxt, lowerTxt, CYAN );
+        SetMsgPanel( upperTxt, lowerTxt );
 
         return false;
     }
@@ -917,7 +916,7 @@ bool PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SavePcbFile( const wxString& aFileName, bool addToHistory,
 
     lowerTxt.Printf( _( "Wrote board file: \"%s\"" ), pcbFileName.GetFullPath() );
 
-    AppendMsgPanel( upperTxt, lowerTxt, CYAN );
+    SetStatusText( lowerTxt, 0 );
 
     GetScreen()->ClrModify();
     GetScreen()->ClrSave();