NodeJS : outputting a string using Express EJS Template

I have a code where on error I return a status with an error message:

if (err){
        res.render('page1', {status:2, msg:'Server Error : Probable unable to connect'});
        return;
}

In my page1.ejs, I have coded the following way:

    var status = <%= status %>;
    alert ( 'The status = ' + status);
    if( status == 2)
    {
            var msg = "'" + <%= msg %> + "'";
            alert(msg);
    }

OR

    if( status == 2)
    {
            alert('"' + <%= msg %> + "'");
    }

I am trying to get the value of status and msg - but since 'msg' exists as multiple words I am not able to find a way to capture complete strings as passed from NodeJS. Firebug shows error as:

SyntaxError: missing ) after argument list

alert('"' + Server Error : Probable unable to connect+ "'");
-------------------|

I am not an expert for EJS, but maybe this could work var msg = <%= msg %>; alert(msg);? Or simply alert(<%= msg %>)?

Try this:

alert('<%= msg %>');