diff --git a/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts b/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts
index 4537e49..e565d7a 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/fcc-lookup.ts
@@ -1280,16 +1280,14 @@ router.get("/api/v1/fcc/cores-search", async (req, res) => {
     });
 
     if (!resp.ok) {
-      res.status(502).json({ error: `The FCC search system is temporarily unavailable (HTTP ${resp.status}). Try searching by FRN instead, or try again in a few minutes.` });
-      return;
+      throw new Error(`FCC returned HTTP ${resp.status}`);
     }
 
     const html = await resp.text();
 
     // FCC sometimes returns 200 but with a maintenance/error page
-    if (html.includes("Service Unavailable") || (html.includes("503") && !html.includes("499results"))) {
-      res.status(502).json({ error: "The FCC search system is temporarily unavailable. Try searching by FRN instead, or try again in a few minutes." });
-      return;
+    if (html.includes("Service Unavailable") || html.includes("FCC Website Error") || (html.includes("503") && !html.includes("499results"))) {
+      throw new Error("FCC search returned maintenance page");
     }
 
     // Parse the results table rows: <tr><th scope="row">834314</th> ... <td><A HREF="499detail.cfm?FilerNum=834314">Carrier One Inc.</a></td><td>DBA</td></tr>