diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index ecd057d14..719c8abc4 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,10 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
   protect_from_forgery with: :exception
 
   rescue_from CanCan::AccessDenied do |exception|
-    redirect_to main_app.root_url, alert: exception.message
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { redirect_to main_app.root_url, alert: exception.message }
+      format.json { render json: {error: exception.message}, status: :forbidden }
+    end
   end
 
   layout :set_layout