diff --git a/lib/api.rb b/lib/api.rb
index de03d42..ba08ae1 100644
--- a/lib/api.rb
+++ b/lib/api.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ helpers do
   end
 
   def halt_with_meaningful_response(status, message)
-    halt status, message
+    halt status, Yajl::Encoder.encode(error: { status: status, message: message })
   end
 end