diff --git a/sda/cmd/api/api.go b/sda/cmd/api/api.go
index 649a7231e..8eb2f004a 100644
--- a/sda/cmd/api/api.go
+++ b/sda/cmd/api/api.go
@@ -527,30 +527,9 @@ func listC4ghHashes(c *gin.Context) {
 
 func deprecateC4ghHash(c *gin.Context) {
 	keyHash := strings.TrimPrefix(c.Param("keyHash"), "/")
-
-	hashes, err := Conf.API.DB.ListKeyHashes()
-	if err != nil {
-		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
-
-		return
-	}
-	found := false
-	for _, h := range hashes {
-		if h.Hash == keyHash {
-			found = true
-
-			break
-		}
-	}
-	if !found {
-		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, fmt.Errorf("%s not found", keyHash))
-
-		return
-	}
-
 	err = Conf.API.DB.DeprecateKeyHash(keyHash)
 	if err != nil {
-		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
+		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, err.Error())
 
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/sda/cmd/api/api_test.go b/sda/cmd/api/api_test.go
index bab7e247d..cdbeb75ed 100644
--- a/sda/cmd/api/api_test.go
+++ b/sda/cmd/api/api_test.go
@@ -1450,7 +1450,7 @@ func (suite *TestSuite) TestDeprecateC4ghHash() {
 	// a second time gives an error since the key is alreadu deprecated
 	resp2, err := client.Do(req)
 	assert.NoError(suite.T(), err)
-	assert.Equal(suite.T(), http.StatusInternalServerError, resp2.StatusCode)
+	assert.Equal(suite.T(), http.StatusBadRequest, resp2.StatusCode)
 	defer resp2.Body.Close()
 }