diff --git a/lib/cartodb/api/auth_api.js b/lib/cartodb/api/auth_api.js
index 0f31e721..fc490585 100644
--- a/lib/cartodb/api/auth_api.js
+++ b/lib/cartodb/api/auth_api.js
@@ -73,7 +73,12 @@ AuthApi.prototype.authorizedByAPIKey = function(user, req, callback) {
             return callback(err);
         }
         if ( !isValidApiKey(apikey)) {
-            return callback(null, false);
+            const error = new Error('Unauthorized');
+            error.type = 'auth';
+            error.subtype = 'api-key-not-found';
+            error.http_status = 401;
+
+            return callback(error);
         }
 
         return callback(null, true);