diff --git a/matrix/matrix.go b/matrix/matrix.go
index d146eb5..fdbb4e7 100644
--- a/matrix/matrix.go
+++ b/matrix/matrix.go
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ func MatrixServer(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	// uses an environment variable for now
 	wellKnownAddr := fmt.Sprintf("%s:8448", config.GetConfig().MatrixWellKnownAddress)
 	if wellKnownAddr == "" {
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 		l.Debug().Str("path", "matrix/server").Msg("matrix well known address unset")
+		http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusNotFound), http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ func MatrixClient(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	wellKnownAddr := config.GetConfig().MatrixWellKnownAddress
 	// no matrix config set
 	if wellKnownAddr == "" {
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
 		l.Debug().Str("path", "matrix/client").Msg("matrix well known address unset")
+		http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusNotFound), http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/nostr/nostr.go b/nostr/nostr.go
index c86b48c..4d91a2c 100644
--- a/nostr/nostr.go
+++ b/nostr/nostr.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func GetNostrAddr(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	err = DB.QueryRow("SELECT pubkey, relays FROM users WHERE id=$1", uid).Scan(&user.Pubkey, &user.Relays)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Error().Msgf("unable to get user for uid %v: %s", uid, err.Error())
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusNotFound), http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func GetNostrAddr(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	err = DB.Select(&names, "SELECT nip05s.name FROM nip05s JOIN users ON nip05s.owner_id = users.id WHERE nip05s.owner_id = $1", uid)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Error().Msgf("unable to get user for uid %v: %s", uid, err.Error())
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusNotFound), http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func GetNostrAddr(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	j, err := json.Marshal(ret)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Error().Msg(err.Error())
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNotFound)
+		http.Error(w, http.StatusText(http.StatusNotFound), http.StatusNotFound)
 		return
 	}