diff --git a/src/Controller/ResqAPI/CustomerController.php b/src/Controller/ResqAPI/CustomerController.php
index 5a934f39..464cb9a7 100644
--- a/src/Controller/ResqAPI/CustomerController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/ResqAPI/CustomerController.php
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class CustomerController extends APIController
 
         $msg = $this->checkRequiredParameters($req, $required_params);
         if ($msg)
-            return new APIResponse(false, $error_message);
+            return new APIResponse(false, $msg);
 
         // get capi user to link to mobile user
         $user_id = $this->getUser()->getID();