diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/lib/validator/validator.py
index 16acfc123..681b27856 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/validator/validator.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/validator/validator.py
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ class VPrintable(VLength):
         except UnicodeEncodeError:
             pass
 
-        self.set_error(errors.BAD_STRING)
+        self.set_error(errors.BAD_STRING, code=400)
         return None
 
     def param_docs(self):