diff --git a/api/helpers.py b/api/helpers.py
index 6965c55..4441b78 100644
--- a/api/helpers.py
+++ b/api/helpers.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # coding=UTF-8
+import json
 from flask import request, current_app, Response
 import unidecode
 import re
@@ -9,8 +10,9 @@ def check_api_key():
         return
     auth = request.authorization
     if not auth or not auth.username in api_keys:
+        response = json.dumps({'status': 401, 'message': 'No valid API key provided'})
         return Response(
-            'No valid API key provided', 401,
+            response, 401,
             {'WWW-Authenticate': 'Basic realm="Login Required"'}
         )