diff --git a/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/parse.py b/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/parse.py
index 409d239b8..05c3da3ca 100644
--- a/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/parse.py
+++ b/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/parse.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def parse_datafile(datafile):
     header_line = rawfile.readline().decode().strip()
     header, header_is_valid, header_errors = schema_defs.header.parse_and_validate(
         header_line,
-        util.make_generate_parser_error(datafile, 1)
+        util.make_generate_file_precheck_parser_error(datafile, 1)
     )
     if not header_is_valid:
         logger.info(f"Preparser Error: {len(header_errors)} header errors encountered.")
diff --git a/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/util.py b/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/util.py
index a7b818297..08f4c61b3 100644
--- a/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/util.py
+++ b/tdrs-backend/tdpservice/parsers/util.py
@@ -64,6 +64,21 @@ def generate(schema, error_category, error_message, record=None, field=None):
     return generate
 
 
+def make_generate_file_precheck_parser_error(datafile, line_number):
+    def generate(schema, error_category, error_message, record=None, field=None):
+        return generate_parser_error(
+            datafile=datafile,
+            line_number=line_number,
+            schema=schema,
+            error_category=error_category,
+            error_message=error_message,
+            record=record,
+            field=None,  # purposely overridden to force a "Rejected" status for certain file precheck errors
+        )
+
+    return generate
+
+
 class SchemaManager:
     """Manages one or more RowSchema's and runs all parsers and validators."""