diff --git a/rh_ui/views/start.py b/rh_ui/views/start.py
index 470ffee..0ee117b 100644
--- a/rh_ui/views/start.py
+++ b/rh_ui/views/start.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def start_post():
     uac = request.form.get('uac').upper().replace(' ', '')
     if error := pre_check_uac(uac):
         flash(error)
-        return render_template("start.html"), 422
+        return render_template("start.html"), 401
     token_response = get_eq_token(uac, g.lang_code)
 
     if error_response := handle_token_error_response(token_response):
diff --git a/tests/unit/views/test_start.py b/tests/unit/views/test_start.py
index e34147d..8dccc74 100644
--- a/tests/unit/views/test_start.py
+++ b/tests/unit/views/test_start.py
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ def test_en_enter_uac_success(test_client):
 def test_en_enter_uac_blank(test_client):
     response = test_client.post(EN_START_ROUTE, data={"uac": ""}, follow_redirects=True)
 
-    assert response.status_code == 422
+    assert response.status_code == 401
     assert 'Enter an access code' in response.text
 
 
 def test_en_enter_uac_invalid_length(test_client):
     response = test_client.post(EN_START_ROUTE, data={"uac": "testing"}, follow_redirects=True)
 
-    assert response.status_code == 422
+    assert response.status_code == 401
     assert 'Enter a 16-character access code' in response.text
 
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_uac_pattern_match_failure(test_client):
     # When we try to hash a UAC that is an invalid format, then it raises the error
     response = test_client.post(EN_START_ROUTE, data={"uac": 'testing_uac_err-'}, follow_redirects=True)
 
-    assert response.status_code == 422
+    assert response.status_code == 401
     assert 'Access code not recognised. Enter the code again.' in response.text