diff --git a/backend/app/api/handlers/v1/v1_ctrl_user.go b/backend/app/api/handlers/v1/v1_ctrl_user.go
index 565a723..c70672f 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/handlers/v1/v1_ctrl_user.go
+++ b/backend/app/api/handlers/v1/v1_ctrl_user.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package v1
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
@@ -27,8 +28,8 @@ func (ctrl *V1Controller) HandleUserRegistration() server.HandlerFunc {
 			return validate.NewRequestError(err, http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		}
 
-		if !ctrl.allowRegistration && regData.GroupToken == "" {
-			return validate.NewRequestError(nil, http.StatusForbidden)
+		if ctrl.allowRegistration == false && regData.GroupToken == "" {
+			return validate.NewRequestError(fmt.Errorf("user registration disabled"), http.StatusForbidden)
 		}
 
 		_, err := ctrl.svc.User.RegisterUser(r.Context(), regData)