diff --git a/src/components/timeline/timeline.vue b/src/components/timeline/timeline.vue
index 1c45d0f6fb..e4d453b86c 100644
--- a/src/components/timeline/timeline.vue
+++ b/src/components/timeline/timeline.vue
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
         v-else-if="error403"
         href="#"
       >
-        <div class="new-status-notification text-center panel-footer">{{ $t('timeline.error_403_message') }}</div>
+        <div class="new-status-notification text-center panel-footer">{{ error403 }}</div>
       </a>
       <div
         v-else
diff --git a/src/i18n/en.json b/src/i18n/en.json
index c203e156f6..1dd990624b 100644
--- a/src/i18n/en.json
+++ b/src/i18n/en.json
@@ -535,8 +535,7 @@
     "collapse": "Collapse",
     "conversation": "Conversation",
     "error_fetching": "Error fetching updates",
-    "error_403": "This timeline is not public.",
-    "error_403_message": "Please sign in.",
+    "error_403": "Access denied",
     "load_older": "Load older statuses",
     "no_retweet_hint": "Post is marked as followers-only or direct and cannot be repeated",
     "repeated": "repeated",
diff --git a/src/services/timeline_fetcher/timeline_fetcher.service.js b/src/services/timeline_fetcher/timeline_fetcher.service.js
index 9352d73adf..b795205041 100644
--- a/src/services/timeline_fetcher/timeline_fetcher.service.js
+++ b/src/services/timeline_fetcher/timeline_fetcher.service.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ const fetchAndUpdate = ({
     .then((statuses) => {
       // Change messaging if not public
       if (statuses.error) {
-        store.dispatch('set403Error', { value: true })
+        store.dispatch('set403Error', { value: statuses.error })
         return
       }
       if (!older && statuses.length >= 20 && !timelineData.loading && numStatusesBeforeFetch > 0) {