diff --git a/bookwyrm/views.py b/bookwyrm/views.py
index bd894806..2c30c16f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views.py
@@ -38,12 +38,14 @@ def is_api_request(request):
 
 def server_error_page(request):
     ''' 500 errors '''
-    return TemplateResponse(request, 'error.html', {'title': 'Oops!'})
+    return TemplateResponse(
+        request, 'error.html', {'title': 'Oops!'}, status=500)
 
 
 def not_found_page(request, _):
     ''' 404s '''
-    return TemplateResponse(request, 'notfound.html', {'title': 'Not found'})
+    return TemplateResponse(
+        request, 'notfound.html', {'title': 'Not found'}, status=404)
 
 
 @login_required