diff --git a/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/BigBlueButtonFilters.groovy b/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/BigBlueButtonFilters.groovy
index d21e9b3b05..8389581b61 100755
--- a/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/BigBlueButtonFilters.groovy
+++ b/bigbluebutton-web/grails-app/conf/BigBlueButtonFilters.groovy
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class BigBlueButtonFilters {
   	serviceUnavailable(controller:'api',action:'(create|join|isMeetingRunning|end|getMeetingInfo|getMeetings|enter|signOut)') {
   		before = {
   			if (keepAliveService.isDown()) {
-				render(view: "error")
+				render(view: "error", status: 503)
 				return false
   			}
   		}