diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/error.py b/r2/r2/controllers/error.py
index c6c0673fb..705603e2d 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/error.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/error.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class ErrorController(RedditController):
                      c.response.content = str(code)
                 return c.response
             elif c.render_style == "api":
-                c.response.content = "{error: %s}" % code
+                c.response.content = "{\"error\": %s}" % code
                 return c.response
             elif takedown and code == 404:
                 link = Link._by_fullname(takedown)