diff --git a/nomad/app/__init__.py b/nomad/app/__init__.py
index 5f3baf246333316a80447825754d451266ce2c60..145d7f4826513c02c97bebb38cc70299e049d427 100644
--- a/nomad/app/__init__.py
+++ b/nomad/app/__init__.py
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ def handle(error: Exception):
     status_code = getattr(error, 'code', 500)
     if not isinstance(status_code, int):
         status_code = 500
+    if status_code < 100:
+        status_code = 500
+
     name = getattr(error, 'name', 'Internal Server Error')
     description = getattr(error, 'description', 'No description available')
     data = dict(