diff --git a/src/util/session.js b/src/util/session.js
index 83da4e6f5..f78df6e8f 100644
--- a/src/util/session.js
+++ b/src/util/session.js
@@ -218,11 +218,11 @@ export const restoreSession = (session) =>
     .catch(error => {
       // The user's session may be deleted without the user logging out, for
       // example, if a backup is restored. In that case, the request will result
-      // in a 404. We remove sessionExpires from local storage so that
+      // in a 401. We remove sessionExpires from local storage so that
       // AccountLogin doesn't prevent the user from logging in.
       const { response } = error;
       if (response != null && isProblem(response.data) &&
-        response.data.code === 404.1) {
+        response.data.code === 401.2) {
         removeSessionFromStorage();
       }
 
diff --git a/test/unit/session.spec.js b/test/unit/session.spec.js
index 00bd7737d..f38fb9dac 100644
--- a/test/unit/session.spec.js
+++ b/test/unit/session.spec.js
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@ describe('util/session', () => {
         });
     });
 
-    it('removes sessionExpires from local storage after a 404', () => {
+    it('removes sessionExpires from local storage after a 401', () => {
       const container = createTestContainer();
       const { session } = container.requestData;
       return mockHttp(container)
         .request(() => restoreSession(session).catch(noop))
-        .respondWithProblem(404.1)
+        .respondWithProblem(401.2)
         .afterResponse(() => {
           should.not.exist(localStorage.getItem('sessionExpires'));
         });