diff --git a/src/main/java/com/corundumstudio/socketio/handler/AuthorizeHandler.java b/src/main/java/com/corundumstudio/socketio/handler/AuthorizeHandler.java
index b03797f..8327857 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/corundumstudio/socketio/handler/AuthorizeHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/corundumstudio/socketio/handler/AuthorizeHandler.java
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ public class AuthorizeHandler extends ChannelInboundHandlerAdapter implements Di
             authorizedSessionIds.put(sessionId, data);
             log.debug("Handshake authorized for sessionId: {}", sessionId);
         } else {
-            HttpResponse res = new DefaultHttpResponse(HTTP_1_1, HttpResponseStatus.FORBIDDEN);
+            HttpResponse res = new DefaultHttpResponse(HTTP_1_1, HttpResponseStatus.UNAUTHORIZED);
             ChannelFuture f = channel.writeAndFlush(res);
             f.addListener(ChannelFutureListener.CLOSE);