diff --git a/services/web/app/src/Features/Spelling/SpellingController.js b/services/web/app/src/Features/Spelling/SpellingController.js
index 3476bbe1f8..c875b25dd8 100644
--- a/services/web/app/src/Features/Spelling/SpellingController.js
+++ b/services/web/app/src/Features/Spelling/SpellingController.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ module.exports = {
     const { language } = req.body
     if (language && !languageCodeIsSupported(language)) {
       logger.info({ language }, `language not supported`)
-      return res.status(200).send(JSON.stringify({ misspellings: [] }))
+      return res.status(422).send(JSON.stringify({ misspellings: [] }))
     }
 
     const userId = AuthenticationController.getLoggedInUserId(req)
diff --git a/services/web/test/unit/src/Spelling/SpellingControllerTests.js b/services/web/test/unit/src/Spelling/SpellingControllerTests.js
index b899edd37c..ecb1afba1e 100644
--- a/services/web/test/unit/src/Spelling/SpellingControllerTests.js
+++ b/services/web/test/unit/src/Spelling/SpellingControllerTests.js
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ describe('SpellingController', function() {
           .should.equal(true)
       })
 
-      it('should return a 200 status', function() {
-        this.res.status.calledWith(200).should.equal(true)
+      it('should return a 422 status', function() {
+        this.res.status.calledWith(422).should.equal(true)
       })
     })
   })