diff --git a/pywb/utils.py b/pywb/utils.py
index 2cc7ecac..e947f0a0 100644
--- a/pywb/utils.py
+++ b/pywb/utils.py
@@ -67,3 +67,11 @@ class PerfTimer:
             self.perfdict[self.name] = str(self.end - self.start)
 
 
+# adapted from wsgiref.request_uri, but doesn't include domain name and allows ':' in url
+def request_uri(environ, include_query=1):
+    """Return the requested path, optionally including the query string"""
+    from urllib import quote
+    url = quote(environ.get('SCRIPT_NAME', '')+environ.get('PATH_INFO',''),safe='/;=,:')
+    if include_query and environ.get('QUERY_STRING'):
+        url += '?' + environ['QUERY_STRING']
+    return url
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pywb/wbapp.py b/pywb/wbapp.py
index 75b6bd7b..b81467f0 100644
--- a/pywb/wbapp.py
+++ b/pywb/wbapp.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from utils import request_uri
 from query import QueryHandler, EchoEnv, EchoRequest
 from replay import WBHandler
 import wbexceptions
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ except:
 
 
 def application(env, start_response):
+    env['REQUEST_URI'] = request_uri(env)
     response = None
 
     try:
diff --git a/pywb/wbexceptions.py b/pywb/wbexceptions.py
index 22975422..e1c9a5bf 100644
--- a/pywb/wbexceptions.py
+++ b/pywb/wbexceptions.py
@@ -1,28 +1,28 @@
 
 class RequestParseException(Exception):
     def status(_):
-        return '400'
+        return '400 Bad Request'
 
 class BadUrlException(Exception):
     def status(_):
-        return '400'
+        return '400 Bad Request'
 
 class AccessException(Exception):
     def status(_):
-        return '403'
+        return '403 Forbidden'
 
 class InvalidCDXException(Exception):
     def status(_):
-        return '500'
+        return '500 Internal Server Error'
 
 class NotFoundException(Exception):
     def status(_):
-        return '404'
+        return '404 Not Found'
 
 # Exceptions that effect a specific capture and result in a retry
 class CaptureException(Exception):
     def status(_):
-        return '500'
+        return '500 Internal Server Error'
 
 class UnresolvedArchiveFileException(CaptureException):
     pass
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class ArchiveLoadFailed(CaptureException):
         self.reason = reason
 
     def status(_):
-        return '503'
+        return '503 Service Unavailable'
 
 class InternalRedirect(Exception):
     def __init__(self, location, status = '302 Internal Redirect'):
@@ -53,6 +53,6 @@ class InternalRedirect(Exception):
         self.status = status
         self.httpHeaders = [('Location', location)]
 
-    def status(_):
+    def status(self):
         return self.status