diff --git a/api.php b/api.php
index 4381a1f4..7d9e488f 100644
--- a/api.php
+++ b/api.php
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
     $results = fetch_search_results($opts, false);
     if (array_key_exists("error", $results)) {
-        http_response_code(418);  // I'm a teapot
+        http_response_code(500);
     }
     header("Content-Type: application/json");
     echo json_encode($results);