diff --git a/kdc/bx509d.c b/kdc/bx509d.c
index d78b49275..b7e9096f7 100644
--- a/kdc/bx509d.c
+++ b/kdc/bx509d.c
@@ -2600,7 +2600,7 @@ route(void *cls,
          * possibly multiple times.
          */
         if ((ret = set_req_desc(connection, method, url, &r)))
-            return bad_503(r, ret, "Could not initialize request state");
+            return MHD_NO;
         *ctx = r;
 
         /* All requests other than /health require authentication */