diff --git a/clientapi/routing/register.go b/clientapi/routing/register.go
index c0fceaef7..820c74846 100644
--- a/clientapi/routing/register.go
+++ b/clientapi/routing/register.go
@@ -590,7 +590,10 @@ func handleRegistrationFlow(
 	// TODO: email / msisdn auth types.
 	accessToken, accessTokenErr := auth.ExtractAccessToken(req)
 	if accessTokenErr != nil {
-		return util.MessageResponse(http.StatusForbidden, "Access token error: "+accessTokenErr.Error())
+		return util.JSONResponse{
+			Code: http.StatusUnauthorized,
+			JSON: jsonerror.MissingToken(accessTokenErr.Error()),
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Appservices are special and are not affected by disabled