diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs b/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs
index f9a8653b..a15d4a71 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/errors.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 use crate::frontend::authorization::Authorization;
 use crate::jsonrpc::{self, JsonRpcErrorData, ParsedResponse, StreamResponse};
 use crate::response_cache::ForwardedResponse;
+use crate::rpcs::blockchain::Web3ProxyBlock;
+use crate::rpcs::one::Web3Rpc;
 use crate::rpcs::provider::EthersHttpProvider;
 use axum::extract::rejection::JsonRejection;
 use axum::extract::ws::Message;
@@ -135,6 +137,10 @@ pub enum Web3ProxyError {
     #[from(ignore)]
     MethodNotFound(Cow<'static, str>),
     NoVolatileRedisDatabase,
+    #[error(ignore)]
+    #[from(ignore)]
+    #[display(fmt = "{} @ {}", _0, _1)]
+    OldHead(Arc<Web3Rpc>, Web3ProxyBlock),
     OriginRequired,
     #[error(ignore)]
     #[from(ignore)]
@@ -820,6 +826,20 @@ impl Web3ProxyError {
                     },
                 )
             }
+            Self::OldHead(rpc, old_head) => {
+                warn!(?old_head, "{} is lagged", rpc);
+                (
+                    StatusCode::BAD_GATEWAY,
+                    JsonRpcErrorData {
+                        message: "RPC is lagged".into(),
+                        code: StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST.as_u16().into(),
+                        data: Some(json!({
+                            "rpc": rpc.name,
+                            "head": old_head,
+                        })),
+                    },
+                )
+            }
             Self::OriginRequired => {
                 trace!("OriginRequired");
                 (
diff --git a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs
index 1b900b51..9450c0d0 100644
--- a/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs
+++ b/web3_proxy/src/rpcs/one.rs
@@ -642,9 +642,9 @@ impl Web3Rpc {
         let head_block = self.head_block_sender.as_ref().unwrap().borrow().clone();
 
         if let Some(head_block) = head_block {
-            // TODO: if head block is very old and not expected to be syncing, emit warning
             if head_block.age() > self.max_head_block_age {
-                return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("head_block is too old!").into());
+                // TODO: if the server is expected to be syncing, make a way to quiet this error
+                return Err(Web3ProxyError::OldHead(self.clone(), head_block));
             }
 
             if detailed_healthcheck {