diff --git a/src/Application.ts b/src/Application.ts
index d1a6d5f..b382fe5 100644
--- a/src/Application.ts
+++ b/src/Application.ts
@@ -102,16 +102,16 @@ export default abstract class Application implements Extendable<ApplicationCompo
                 const bag = err;
                 res.format({
                     json: () => {
-                        res.status(401);
+                        res.status(400);
                         res.json({
                             status: 'error',
-                            code: 401,
+                            code: 400,
                             message: 'Invalid form data',
                             messages: bag.getMessages(),
                         });
                     },
                     text: () => {
-                        res.status(401);
+                        res.status(400);
                         res.send('Error: ' + bag.getMessages());
                     },
                     html: () => {
diff --git a/test/Authentication.test.ts b/test/Authentication.test.ts
index d48f7e1..4ec5e4d 100644
--- a/test/Authentication.test.ts
+++ b/test/Authentication.test.ts
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ describe('Register with username', () => {
                 password_confirmation: 'horde_prime_will_rise',
                 terms: 'on',
             })
-            .expect(401);
+            .expect(400);
         // username field should be translated from identifier
         expect(res.body.messages?.username?.name).toStrictEqual('AlreadyExistsValidationError');