diff --git a/clientapi/routing/membership.go b/clientapi/routing/membership.go
index c03b21ba7..58f187608 100644
--- a/clientapi/routing/membership.go
+++ b/clientapi/routing/membership.go
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ func SendForget(
 	if membershipRes.IsInRoom {
 		return util.JSONResponse{
 			Code: http.StatusBadRequest,
-			JSON: jsonerror.Forbidden(fmt.Sprintf("User %s is in room %s", device.UserID, roomID)),
+			JSON: jsonerror.Unknown(fmt.Sprintf("User %s is in room %s", device.UserID, roomID)),
 		}
 	}