diff --git a/include/ircd/m/error.h b/include/ircd/m/error.h
index 14a94695b..78b0e6b03 100644
--- a/include/ircd/m/error.h
+++ b/include/ircd/m/error.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ namespace ircd::m
 	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, BAD_REQUEST, http::BAD_REQUEST);
 	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, BAD_JSON, http::BAD_REQUEST);
 	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, NOT_JSON, http::BAD_REQUEST);
-	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, BAD_SIGNATURE, http::UNAUTHORIZED);
+	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, BAD_SIGNATURE, http::FORBIDDEN);
 	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, ACCESS_DENIED, http::FORBIDDEN);
 	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, FORBIDDEN, http::FORBIDDEN);
 	IRCD_M_EXCEPTION(error, NOT_FOUND, http::NOT_FOUND);
diff --git a/matrix/event.cc b/matrix/event.cc
index 8ba8f09a6..b5ab79d4e 100644
--- a/matrix/event.cc
+++ b/matrix/event.cc
@@ -476,8 +476,9 @@ catch(const ctx::interrupted &e)
 }
 catch(const std::exception &e)
 {
-	throw m::BAD_SIGNATURE
+	throw m::error
 	{
+		http::UNAUTHORIZED, "M_UNVERIFIABLE_SIGNATURE",
 		"%s key %s for %s :%s",
 		string_view{event.event_id},
 		keyid,