diff --git a/api.php b/api.php
index 342186f8..7d9e488f 100644
--- a/api.php
+++ b/api.php
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
     }
 
     $results = fetch_search_results($opts, false);
+    if (array_key_exists("error", $results)) {
+        http_response_code(500);
+    }
     header("Content-Type: application/json");
     echo json_encode($results);
 ?>