diff --git a/packages/api/src/services/create_user.ts b/packages/api/src/services/create_user.ts
index c71da06cd..a52b76c22 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/services/create_user.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/services/create_user.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export const createUser = async (input: {
   const existingUser = await userRepository.findByEmail(trimmedEmail)
   if (existingUser) {
     if (existingUser.profile) {
-      return Promise.reject({ errorCode: SignupErrorCode.UserExists })
+      return Promise.reject({ errorCode: SignupErrorCode.Unknown })
     }
 
     // create profile if user exists but profile does not exist
diff --git a/packages/api/test/routers/auth.test.ts b/packages/api/test/routers/auth.test.ts
index 8bfd3e5e4..32b438047 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/routers/auth.test.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/routers/auth.test.ts
@@ -90,12 +90,12 @@ describe('auth router', () => {
         await deleteUser(user.id)
       })
 
-      it('redirects to sign up page with error code USER_EXISTS', async () => {
+      it('redirects to sign up page with error code UNKNOWN', async () => {
         const res = await signupRequest(email, password, name, username).expect(
           302
         )
         expect(res.header.location).to.endWith(
-          '/email-signup?errorCodes=USER_EXISTS'
+          '/email-signup?errorCodes=UNKNOWN'
         )
       })
     })