diff --git a/AUTHORS.rst b/AUTHORS.rst
index e13ac5ad3..9a83d9015 100644
--- a/AUTHORS.rst
+++ b/AUTHORS.rst
@@ -62,4 +62,7 @@ Christoph Witzany <christoph at web.crofting.com>
  * Add LDAP support for authentication
 
 Pierre Jaury <pierre at jaury.eu>
-* Docker packaging
\ No newline at end of file
+* Docker packaging
+
+Serban Constantin <serban.constantin at gmail dot com>
+ * Small bug fix
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/changelog.d/2952.bugfix b/changelog.d/2952.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e5bc8a876
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/2952.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/directory/list API returns 404 for room not found instead of 400
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py b/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
index 69dcd618c..97733f302 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v1/directory.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import logging
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
-from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, SynapseError
+from synapse.api.errors import AuthError, Codes, NotFoundError, SynapseError
 from synapse.http.servlet import parse_json_object_from_request
 from synapse.types import RoomAlias
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class ClientDirectoryListServer(ClientV1RestServlet):
     def on_GET(self, request, room_id):
         room = yield self.store.get_room(room_id)
         if room is None:
-            raise SynapseError(400, "Unknown room")
+            raise NotFoundError("Unknown room")
 
         defer.returnValue((200, {
             "visibility": "public" if room["is_public"] else "private"