diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index 0b697fd..fa00f9f 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
   protect_from_forgery with: :exception
 
   rescue_from CanCan::AccessDenied do |exception|
-    redirect_to root_url, alert: exception.message
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.json { render nothing: true, status: :forbidden }
+      format.html { redirect_to root_url, alert: exception.message }
+    end
   end
 
   def authenticate_user_or_client!