diff --git a/core/servers/content/web_handlers/activitypub.js b/core/servers/content/web_handlers/activitypub.js
index ac9b86f9..fc9720c2 100644
--- a/core/servers/content/web_handlers/activitypub.js
+++ b/core/servers/content/web_handlers/activitypub.js
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ exports.getModule = class ActivityPubWebHandler extends WebHandlerModule {
                 signature.keyId.split('#', 1)[0], // trim #main-key
                 (err, remoteActor, signatureActor) => {
                     if (err) {
-                        return this.webServer.accept(resp);
+                        return this.webServer.accessDenied(resp);
                     }
 
                     // validate sig up front