diff --git a/lib/http-routes/api/error.js b/lib/http-routes/api/error.js
index 52661e74..adf525c0 100644
--- a/lib/http-routes/api/error.js
+++ b/lib/http-routes/api/error.js
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ function sysError(logger, res, err) {
     return res.status(400).json({msg: err.message});
   }
   if (err instanceof DbErrorUnprocessableRequest) {
-    logger.info(err, 'unprocessable request');
-    return res.status(422).json({msg: err.message});
+    logger.info({message: err.message}, 'unprocessable request');
+    return res.status(422).send(err.message);
   }
   if (err.code === 'ER_DUP_ENTRY') {
     logger.info(err, 'duplicate entry on insert');