diff --git a/backends/rapidpro/backend_test.go b/backends/rapidpro/backend_test.go
index f58bb3186..74de96d55 100644
--- a/backends/rapidpro/backend_test.go
+++ b/backends/rapidpro/backend_test.go
@@ -481,6 +481,7 @@ func (ts *BackendTestSuite) TestMsgStatus() {
 	ts.Equal(null.String("ext0"), m.ExternalID_)
 	ts.True(m.ModifiedOn_.After(now))
 	ts.True(m.SentOn_.After(now))
+	ts.Equal(null.NullString, m.FailedReason_)
 
 	sentOn := *m.SentOn_
 
@@ -584,6 +585,7 @@ func (ts *BackendTestSuite) TestMsgStatus() {
 	ts.Equal(m.ErrorCount_, 1)
 	ts.True(m.ModifiedOn_.After(now))
 	ts.True(m.NextAttempt_.After(now))
+	ts.Equal(null.NullString, m.FailedReason_)
 
 	// second go
 	status = ts.b.NewMsgStatusForExternalID(channel, "ext1", courier.MsgErrored)
@@ -594,6 +596,7 @@ func (ts *BackendTestSuite) TestMsgStatus() {
 	m = readMsgFromDB(ts.b, courier.NewMsgID(10000))
 	ts.Equal(m.Status_, courier.MsgErrored)
 	ts.Equal(m.ErrorCount_, 2)
+	ts.Equal(null.NullString, m.FailedReason_)
 
 	// third go
 	status = ts.b.NewMsgStatusForExternalID(channel, "ext1", courier.MsgErrored)
@@ -604,6 +607,7 @@ func (ts *BackendTestSuite) TestMsgStatus() {
 	m = readMsgFromDB(ts.b, courier.NewMsgID(10000))
 	ts.Equal(m.Status_, courier.MsgFailed)
 	ts.Equal(m.ErrorCount_, 3)
+	ts.Equal(null.String("E"), m.FailedReason_)
 
 	// update URN when the new doesn't exist
 	tx, _ := ts.b.db.BeginTxx(ctx, nil)
diff --git a/backends/rapidpro/msg.go b/backends/rapidpro/msg.go
index 020071f84..a194a9363 100644
--- a/backends/rapidpro/msg.go
+++ b/backends/rapidpro/msg.go
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ SELECT
 	attachments,
 	msg_count,
 	error_count,
+	failed_reason,
 	high_priority,
 	status,
 	visibility,
@@ -497,8 +498,9 @@ type DBMsg struct {
 	ContactID_    ContactID         `json:"contact_id"      db:"contact_id"`
 	ContactURNID_ ContactURNID      `json:"contact_urn_id"  db:"contact_urn_id"`
 
-	MessageCount_ int `json:"msg_count"    db:"msg_count"`
-	ErrorCount_   int `json:"error_count"  db:"error_count"`
+	MessageCount_ int         `json:"msg_count"     db:"msg_count"`
+	ErrorCount_   int         `json:"error_count"   db:"error_count"`
+	FailedReason_ null.String `json:"failed_reason" db:"failed_reason"`
 
 	ChannelUUID_ courier.ChannelUUID `json:"channel_uuid"`
 	ContactName_ string              `json:"contact_name"`
diff --git a/backends/rapidpro/schema.sql b/backends/rapidpro/schema.sql
index 191169480..e21cbb7c0 100644
--- a/backends/rapidpro/schema.sql
+++ b/backends/rapidpro/schema.sql
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ CREATE TABLE msgs_msg (
     msg_count integer NOT NULL,
     error_count integer NOT NULL,
     next_attempt timestamp with time zone NOT NULL,
+    failed_reason character varying(1),
     external_id character varying(255),
     attachments character varying(255)[],
     channel_id integer references channels_channel(id) on delete cascade,
@@ -79,7 +80,8 @@ CREATE TABLE msgs_msg (
     contact_urn_id integer NOT NULL references contacts_contacturn(id) on delete cascade,
     org_id integer NOT NULL references orgs_org(id) on delete cascade,
     metadata text,
-    topup_id integer
+    topup_id integer,
+    delete_from_counts boolean
 );
 
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS channels_channellog CASCADE;
diff --git a/backends/rapidpro/status.go b/backends/rapidpro/status.go
index 6a81d6335..a707bb7a4 100644
--- a/backends/rapidpro/status.go
+++ b/backends/rapidpro/status.go
@@ -107,6 +107,14 @@ UPDATE msgs_msg SET
 		ELSE 
 			next_attempt 
 		END,
+	failed_reason = CASE
+		WHEN
+			error_count >= 2
+		THEN
+			'E'
+		ELSE
+			failed_reason
+	    END,
 	sent_on = CASE 
 		WHEN 
 			:status = 'W' 
@@ -164,6 +172,14 @@ UPDATE msgs_msg SET
 		ELSE 
 			next_attempt 
 		END,
+	failed_reason = CASE
+		WHEN
+			error_count >= 2
+		THEN
+			'E'
+		ELSE
+			failed_reason
+	    END,
 	sent_on = CASE 
 		WHEN 
 			:status IN ('W', 'S', 'D')