diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex
index e2cab86f1..aef2abf0b 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller.ex
@@ -488,12 +488,12 @@ def post_status(%{assigns: %{user: user}} = conn, %{"status" => _} = params) do
       case get_cached_status_or_post(conn, params) do
         {:ignore, message} ->
           conn
-          |> put_status(401)
+          |> put_status(422)
           |> json(%{error: message})
 
         {:error, message} ->
           conn
-          |> put_status(401)
+          |> put_status(422)
           |> json(%{error: message})
 
         {_, activity} ->
diff --git a/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs b/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
index e1df79ffb..4f332f83c 100644
--- a/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
+++ b/test/web/mastodon_api/mastodon_api_controller_test.exs
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ test "option limit is enforced", %{conn: conn} do
           "poll" => %{"options" => Enum.map(0..limit, fn _ -> "desu" end), "expires_in" => 1}
         })
 
-      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 401)
+      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 422)
       assert error == "Poll can't contain more than #{limit} options"
     end
 
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ test "option character limit is enforced", %{conn: conn} do
           }
         })
 
-      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 401)
+      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 422)
       assert error == "Poll options cannot be longer than #{limit} characters each"
     end
 
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ test "minimal date limit is enforced", %{conn: conn} do
           }
         })
 
-      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 401)
+      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 422)
       assert error == "Expiration date is too soon"
     end
 
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ test "maximum date limit is enforced", %{conn: conn} do
           }
         })
 
-      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 401)
+      %{"error" => error} = json_response(conn, 422)
       assert error == "Expiration date is too far in the future"
     end
   end