diff --git a/cmd/syncthing/gui.go b/cmd/syncthing/gui.go
index 0aa39809d..fdc2e912c 100644
--- a/cmd/syncthing/gui.go
+++ b/cmd/syncthing/gui.go
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ func (s *apiService) whenDebugging(h http.Handler) http.Handler {
 			return
 		}
 
-		http.Error(w, "Debugging disabled", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		http.Error(w, "Debugging disabled", http.StatusForbidden)
 	})
 }