diff --git a/arangod/Cluster/SynchronizeShard.cpp b/arangod/Cluster/SynchronizeShard.cpp
index 7d95b810a3..aae1ba67e5 100644
--- a/arangod/Cluster/SynchronizeShard.cpp
+++ b/arangod/Cluster/SynchronizeShard.cpp
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ bool SynchronizeShard::first() {
           "synchronizeOneShard: synchronization failed for shard ");
         errorMessage += shard + ": shutdown in progress, giving up";
         LOG_TOPIC(INFO, Logger::MAINTENANCE) << errorMessage;
-        _result.reset(TRI_ERROR_INTERNAL, errorMessage);
+        _result.reset(TRI_ERROR_SHUTTING_DOWN, errorMessage);
         return false;
       }
 
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ ResultT<TRI_voc_tick_t> SynchronizeShard::catchupWithReadLock(
     if (isStopping()) {
       std::string errorMessage = 
         "synchronizeOneShard: startReadLockOnLeader (soft): shutting down";
-      return ResultT<TRI_voc_tick_t>::error(TRI_ERROR_INTERNAL, errorMessage);
+      return ResultT<TRI_voc_tick_t>::error(TRI_ERROR_SHUTTING_DOWN, errorMessage);
     }
 
     didTimeout = false;