diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/ServiceFailedException.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/ServiceFailedException.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..05e39741c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/ServiceFailedException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+//
+// $Id: ServiceFailedException.java,v 1.1 2001/10/01 23:06:23 mdb Exp $
+
+package com.threerings.cocktail.cher.server;
+
+/**
+ * An exception class for use in concert with invocation services when
+ * they need to communicate a failure of some kind and can't use the
+ * return value.
+ *
+ * <p> For example, consider an invitation service:
+ *
+ * <pre>
+ * public class fooManager
+ * {
+ *     // returns invitation id, throws ServiceFailedException if
+ *     // invitation couldn't be processed
+ *     public int invite (...)
+ *         throws ServiceFailedException
+ *     {
+ *     }
+ * }
+ *
+ * public class fooProvider
+ * {
+ *     public void handleInviteRequest (...)
+ *     {
+ *         try {
+ *             int inviteId = _mgr.invite(...);
+ *             sendResponse(..., INVITE_RECEIVED, new Integer(inviteId));
+ *
+ *         } catch (ServiceFailedException sfe) {
+ *             sendResponse(..., INVITE_FAILED, sfe.getMessage());
+ *         }
+ *     }
+ * }
+ * </pre>
+ */
+public class ServiceFailedException extends Exception
+{
+    public ServiceFailedException (String message)
+    {
+        super(message);
+    }
+}