diff --git a/middlewares/access_control_middlewares.go b/middlewares/access_control_middlewares.go
index 36c18f909..e8fbc21d4 100644
--- a/middlewares/access_control_middlewares.go
+++ b/middlewares/access_control_middlewares.go
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func DisallowPublicRequests(next echo.HandlerFunc) echo.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(ctx shared.Context) error {
 		if shared.IsPublicRequest(ctx) {
 			slog.Warn("access denied for public request in DisallowPublicRequests middleware")
-			return echo.NewHTTPError(404, "could not find resource")
+			return echo.NewHTTPError(401, "this endpoint is not accessible for public requests")
 		}
 		return next(ctx)
 	}