diff --git a/backend/api/controllers/ape-keys.ts b/backend/api/controllers/ape-keys.ts
index ab78340fb..42702cfbf 100644
--- a/backend/api/controllers/ape-keys.ts
+++ b/backend/api/controllers/ape-keys.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ApeKeysController {
 
     if (currentNumberOfApeKeys >= maxKeysPerUser) {
       throw new MonkeyError(
-        500,
+        400,
         "Maximum number of ApeKeys have been generated"
       );
     }