diff --git a/Koha/REST/V1/Acquisitions/Orders.pm b/Koha/REST/V1/Acquisitions/Orders.pm
index 371132acca..b254e4da7e 100644
--- a/Koha/REST/V1/Acquisitions/Orders.pm
+++ b/Koha/REST/V1/Acquisitions/Orders.pm
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ sub delete {
     } elsif ( ( $order->orderstatus && $order->orderstatus ne 'cancelled' ) || !$order->datecancellationprinted ) {
         # Koha may (historically) have inconsistent order data here (e.g. cancelled without date)
         return $c->render(
-            status  => 403,
+            status  => 409,
             openapi => { error => 'Order status must be cancelled' }
         );
     }
diff --git a/api/v1/swagger/paths/acquisitions_orders.yaml b/api/v1/swagger/paths/acquisitions_orders.yaml
index 8f5f35e669..bebe27e402 100644
--- a/api/v1/swagger/paths/acquisitions_orders.yaml
+++ b/api/v1/swagger/paths/acquisitions_orders.yaml
@@ -290,6 +290,10 @@
         description: Order not found
         schema:
           $ref: "../swagger.yaml#/definitions/error"
+      "409":
+        description: Conflict
+        schema:
+          $ref: "../swagger.yaml#/definitions/error"
       "500":
         description: |
           Internal server error. Possible `error_code` attribute values:
diff --git a/t/db_dependent/api/v1/acquisitions_orders.t b/t/db_dependent/api/v1/acquisitions_orders.t
index 39782efc17..be4867221d 100755
--- a/t/db_dependent/api/v1/acquisitions_orders.t
+++ b/t/db_dependent/api/v1/acquisitions_orders.t
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ subtest 'delete() tests' => sub {
 
     # Check if status is cancelled?
     $order->orderstatus('new')->store;
-    $t->delete_ok( "//$auth_userid:$password@/api/v1/acquisitions/orders/" . $order->ordernumber )->status_is(403);
+    $t->delete_ok( "//$auth_userid:$password@/api/v1/acquisitions/orders/" . $order->ordernumber )->status_is(409);
     $order->orderstatus('cancelled')->store;
     $t->delete_ok( "//$auth_userid:$password@/api/v1/acquisitions/orders/" . $order->ordernumber )
       ->status_is(204, 'SWAGGER3.2.4')