diff --git a/backend/server/internal/server/middleware.go b/backend/server/internal/server/middleware.go
index f00c337..9cdfe32 100644
--- a/backend/server/internal/server/middleware.go
+++ b/backend/server/internal/server/middleware.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func withLogging(s *statsd.Client, out io.Writer) Middleware {
 	}
 }
 
-// withPanicGuard is the last defence from a panic. it will log them and return a 500 error
+// withPanicGuard is the last defence from a panic. it will log them and return a 503 error
 // to the client and prevent the http server from breaking
 func withPanicGuard() Middleware {
 	return func(h http.Handler) http.Handler {
diff --git a/backend/server/internal/server/middleware_test.go b/backend/server/internal/server/middleware_test.go
index 1a95fcb..5a0b4b1 100644
--- a/backend/server/internal/server/middleware_test.go
+++ b/backend/server/internal/server/middleware_test.go
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ func TestPanicGuard(t *testing.T) {
 	if panicked {
 		t.Fatalf("expected no panic")
 	}
-	if w.Code != http.StatusInternalServerError {
-		t.Errorf("expected status %d, got %d", http.StatusInternalServerError, w.Code)
+	if w.Code != http.StatusServiceUnavailable {
+		t.Errorf("expected status %d, got %d", http.StatusServiceUnavailable, w.Code)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func TestMergeMiddlewares(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:               "panics",
 			handler:            panicHandler,
-			expectedStatusCode: http.StatusInternalServerError,
+			expectedStatusCode: http.StatusServiceUnavailable,
 			expectedPieces: []string{
 				`oh no`,
 				`127.0.0.1 GET "/"`,