diff --git a/fed/inbox.go b/fed/inbox.go
index 86edda5c..506ede48 100644
--- a/fed/inbox.go
+++ b/fed/inbox.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func (l *Listener) handleInbox(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(r.Body, l.Config.MaxRequestBodySize))
 	if err != nil {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge)
 		return
 	}