diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 92be0c2..0b4ba8d 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ var (
 
 type response struct {
 	Success      bool            `json:"success"`
+	Error        error           `json:"error,omitempty"`
 	MatchedRules yara.MatchRules `json:"rules,omitempty"`
 }
 
@@ -168,8 +169,7 @@ func scanHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 				log.WithField("match", m).Debug("Matched rules")
 
 				if err != nil {
-					w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
-					w.Write([]byte(err.Error()))
+					json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(response{Success: false, Error: err})
 				} else {
 					json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(response{Success: true, MatchedRules: *m})
 				}