diff --git a/app/controllers/concerns/server_errors.rb b/app/controllers/concerns/server_errors.rb
index f5f89fe82..6623bb418 100644
--- a/app/controllers/concerns/server_errors.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/concerns/server_errors.rb
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ module ServerErrors
     end
 
     rescue_from Recaptcha::VerifyError do |exception|
-      render "errors/internal_server_error", status: :bad_gateway
+      render "errors/internal_server_error", status: 403
     end
 
     rescue_from Alma::RequestOptions::ResponseError do |exception|
diff --git a/spec/controllers/primo_central_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/primo_central_controller_spec.rb
index 30c3efb1e..efc8b6c66 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/primo_central_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/primo_central_controller_spec.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,15 @@
         expect(flash[:error]).to eq("Your search has timed out. You may have exceeded the maximum number of pages allowed for Article search results in Library Search.")
       end
     end
+  end
 
+  describe "recaptcha" do
+    context "with recaptche enabled" do
+      it "should not allow article searches" do
+        stub_const("ENV", ENV.to_h.merge("RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY" => "foo"))
+        allow(controller).to receive(:verify_recaptcha).and_return(false)
+        expect { get :index, params: { q: "foo " } }.to raise_error(Recaptcha::VerifyError)
+      end
+    end
   end
 end