diff --git a/SPRINTLOG.md b/SPRINTLOG.md
index 64dd873a9..05c86da58 100644
--- a/SPRINTLOG.md
+++ b/SPRINTLOG.md
@@ -459,7 +459,8 @@ _Nothing merged during this sprint_
 
 - Logging: Add which user name reset password ([https://github.com/ScilifelabDataCentre/dds_web/pull/1574](https://github.com/ScilifelabDataCentre/dds_web/pull/1574))
 
-# 2024-12-02 - 2024-12-13
+# 2024-12-02 – 2024-12-13
 
+- Change the error raised upon attempt to download data after a password reset to an AuthenticationError to avoid getting an alert ([#1571](https://github.com/ScilifelabDataCentre/dds_web/pull/1571))
 - Filter out the MaintenanceModeException from the logs ([#1573](https://github.com/ScilifelabDataCentre/dds_web/pull/1573))
 - Bugfix: Quick and dirty change to prevent `dds ls --tree` from failing systematically ([#1575](https://github.com/ScilifelabDataCentre/dds_web/pull/1575)
diff --git a/dds_web/api/project.py b/dds_web/api/project.py
index 0ce611cfe..9d3530041 100644
--- a/dds_web/api/project.py
+++ b/dds_web/api/project.py
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ def get(self):
         """Get private key from database."""
         # Verify project ID and access
         project = project_schemas.ProjectRequiredSchema().load(flask.request.args)
-
+        dds_web.utils.verify_project_user_key(project=project)
         flask.current_app.logger.debug("Getting the private key.")
 
         return flask.jsonify(
diff --git a/dds_web/utils.py b/dds_web/utils.py
index f815df4bf..46238db2c 100644
--- a/dds_web/utils.py
+++ b/dds_web/utils.py
@@ -85,6 +85,24 @@ def verify_project_access(project) -> None:
         )
 
 
+def verify_project_user_key(project) -> None:
+    """Verify that current authenticated user has a row in projectUserKeys."""
+    project_key = models.ProjectUserKeys.query.filter_by(
+        project_id=project.id, user_id=auth.current_user().username
+    ).one_or_none()
+    if not project_key:
+        msg = (
+            "You have lost access to this project. "
+            "This is likely due to a password reset, in which case you have lost access to all active projects. "
+            f"In order to regain access to this project, please contact {project.responsible_unit.external_display_name} ({project.responsible_unit.contact_email}) and ask them to run 'dds project access fix'."
+        )
+        raise AccessDeniedError(
+            message=msg,
+            username=auth.current_user().username,
+            project=project.public_id,
+        )
+
+
 def verify_cli_version(version_cli: str = None) -> None:
     """Verify that the CLI version in header is compatible with the web version."""
     # Verify that version is specified
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 7d70681b5..6a5dcfabd 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -136,6 +136,70 @@ def test_verify_project_access_ok(client: flask.testing.FlaskClient) -> None:
     utils.verify_project_access(project=project)
 
 
+def test_verify_project_user_key_denied(client: flask.testing.FlaskClient) -> None:
+    """A user must have an entry in projectUserKeys to access a project."""
+    # User
+    user = models.UnitUser.query.filter_by(unit_id=1).first()
+    assert user
+
+    # Get project
+    project = models.Project.query.filter_by(unit_id=1).first()
+    assert project
+
+    # get projectUserKey
+    projectUserKey = models.ProjectUserKeys.query.filter_by(
+        project_id=project.id, user_id=user.username
+    ).one_or_none()
+    assert projectUserKey
+
+    # delete projectUserKey
+    db.session.delete(projectUserKey)
+    db.session.commit()
+
+    # verify no projectUserKey
+    projectUserKey = models.ProjectUserKeys.query.filter_by(
+        project_id=project.id, user_id=user.username
+    ).one_or_none()
+    assert not projectUserKey
+
+    # Set auth.current_user
+    flask.g.flask_httpauth_user = user
+
+    # Verify project access -- not ok
+    with pytest.raises(AccessDeniedError) as err:
+        utils.verify_project_user_key(project=project)
+
+    error_msg = (
+        "You have lost access to this project. "
+        "This is likely due to a password reset, in which case you have lost access to all active projects. "
+        f"In order to regain access to this project, please contact {project.responsible_unit.external_display_name} ({project.responsible_unit.contact_email}) and ask them to run 'dds project access fix'."
+    )
+    assert error_msg in str(err.value)
+
+
+def test_verify_project_user_key_ok(client: flask.testing.FlaskClient) -> None:
+    """A user must have an entry in projectUserKeys to access a project."""
+    # user
+    user = models.UnitUser.query.filter_by(unit_id=1).first()
+    assert user
+
+    # Get project
+    project = models.Project.query.filter_by(unit_id=1).first()
+    assert project
+
+    # get projectUserKey
+    projectUserKey = models.ProjectUserKeys.query.filter_by(
+        project_id=project.id, user_id=user.username
+    ).one_or_none()
+    assert projectUserKey
+
+    # Set auth.current_user
+    flask.g.flask_httpauth_user = user
+
+    # Verify project access -- ok
+    utils.verify_project_access(project=project)
+
+
 # verify_cli_version