diff --git a/http/handler.go b/http/handler.go
index efaf3375a2..e6ec8b9735 100644
--- a/http/handler.go
+++ b/http/handler.go
@@ -156,6 +156,11 @@ func respondError(w http.ResponseWriter, status int, err error) {
 		status = http.StatusServiceUnavailable
 	}
 
+	// Allow HTTPCoded error passthrough to specify a code
+	if t, ok := err.(logical.HTTPCodedError); ok {
+		status = t.Code()
+	}
+
 	w.Header().Add("Content-Type", "application/json")
 	w.WriteHeader(status)
 
diff --git a/http/handler_test.go b/http/handler_test.go
index a38771c31d..266c09a0af 100644
--- a/http/handler_test.go
+++ b/http/handler_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 package http
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/logical"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault"
 )
 
@@ -57,3 +60,34 @@ func TestHandler_sealed(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 503)
 }
+
+func TestHandler_error(t *testing.T) {
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+	respondError(w, 500, errors.New("Test Error"))
+
+	if w.Code != 500 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 500, got %d", w.Code)
+	}
+
+	// The code inside of the error should override
+	// the argument to respondError
+	w2 := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	e := logical.CodedError(403, "error text")
+
+	respondError(w2, 500, e)
+
+	if w2.Code != 403 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 403, got %d", w2.Code)
+	}
+
+	// vault.ErrSealed is a special case
+	w3 := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+	respondError(w3, 400, vault.ErrSealed)
+
+	if w3.Code != 503 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 503, got %d", w3.Code)
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/http/sys_mount.go b/http/sys_mount.go
index 61a53f0738..1d3264b1e9 100644
--- a/http/sys_mount.go
+++ b/http/sys_mount.go
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ func handleSysMount(
 			"description": req.Description,
 		},
 	}))
+
 	if err != nil {
 		respondError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
 		return
@@ -149,6 +150,7 @@ func handleSysUnmount(
 		Path:       "sys/mounts/" + path,
 		Connection: getConnection(r),
 	}))
+	
 	if err != nil {
 		respondError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
 		return
diff --git a/logical/error.go b/logical/error.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e32ef007be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/logical/error.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package logical
+
+type HTTPCodedError interface {
+    Error() string
+    Code() int
+}
+
+func CodedError(c int, s string) HTTPCodedError {
+    return &codedError{s,c}
+}
+
+type codedError struct {
+    s string
+    code int
+}
+
+func (e *codedError) Error() string {
+    return e.s
+}
+
+func (e *codedError) Code() int {
+    return e.code
+}
+
diff --git a/logical/request.go b/logical/request.go
index 92a69903bf..0b123c8119 100644
--- a/logical/request.go
+++ b/logical/request.go
@@ -145,6 +145,6 @@ var (
 	// ErrInvalidRequest is returned if the request is invalid
 	ErrInvalidRequest = errors.New("invalid request")
 
-	// ErrPermissionDeneid is returned if the client is not authorized
+	// ErrPermissionDenied is returned if the client is not authorized
 	ErrPermissionDenied = errors.New("permission denied")
 )
diff --git a/logical/response.go b/logical/response.go
index d87a8f7c96..8af0b3de51 100644
--- a/logical/response.go
+++ b/logical/response.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const (
 	// avoided like the HTTPContentType. The value must be a byte slice.
 	HTTPRawBody = "http_raw_body"
 
-	// HTTPStatusCode is the response code the HTTP body that goes with the HTTPContentType.
+	// HTTPStatusCode is the response code of the HTTP body that goes with the HTTPContentType.
 	// This can only be specified for non-secrets, and should should be similarly
 	// avoided like the HTTPContentType. The value must be an integer.
 	HTTPStatusCode = "http_status_code"
diff --git a/vault/logical_system.go b/vault/logical_system.go
index 12d521b4a6..a428f10598 100644
--- a/vault/logical_system.go
+++ b/vault/logical_system.go
@@ -371,9 +371,21 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleMount(
 	// Attempt mount
 	if err := b.Core.mount(me); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: mount %#v failed: %v", me, err)
+		return handleError(err)
+	}
+
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+// used to intercept an HTTPCodedError so it goes back to callee
+func handleError(
+	err error) (*logical.Response, error) {
+	switch err.(type) {
+	case logical.HTTPCodedError:
+		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), err
+	default:
 		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
 	}
-	return nil, nil
 }
 
 // handleUnmount is used to unmount a path
@@ -387,7 +399,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleUnmount(
 	// Attempt unmount
 	if err := b.Core.unmount(suffix); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: unmount '%s' failed: %v", suffix, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 
 	return nil, nil
@@ -408,7 +420,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRemount(
 	// Attempt remount
 	if err := b.Core.remount(fromPath, toPath); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: remount '%s' to '%s' failed: %v", fromPath, toPath, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 
 	return nil, nil
@@ -428,7 +440,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRenew(
 	resp, err := b.Core.expiration.Renew(leaseID, increment)
 	if err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: renew '%s' failed: %v", leaseID, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return resp, err
 }
@@ -442,7 +454,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRevoke(
 	// Invoke the expiration manager directly
 	if err := b.Core.expiration.Revoke(leaseID); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: revoke '%s' failed: %v", leaseID, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -456,7 +468,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRevokePrefix(
 	// Invoke the expiration manager directly
 	if err := b.Core.expiration.RevokePrefix(prefix); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: revoke prefix '%s' failed: %v", prefix, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -504,7 +516,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleEnableAuth(
 	// Attempt enabling
 	if err := b.Core.enableCredential(me); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: enable auth %#v failed: %v", me, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -520,7 +532,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleDisableAuth(
 	// Attempt disable
 	if err := b.Core.disableCredential(suffix); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: disable auth '%s' failed: %v", suffix, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -543,7 +555,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handlePolicyRead(
 
 	policy, err := b.Core.policy.GetPolicy(name)
 	if err != nil {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 
 	if policy == nil {
@@ -567,7 +579,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handlePolicySet(
 	// Validate the rules parse
 	parse, err := Parse(rules)
 	if err != nil {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 
 	// Override the name
@@ -575,7 +587,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handlePolicySet(
 
 	// Update the policy
 	if err := b.Core.policy.SetPolicy(parse); err != nil {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -585,7 +597,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handlePolicyDelete(
 	req *logical.Request, data *framework.FieldData) (*logical.Response, error) {
 	name := data.Get("name").(string)
 	if err := b.Core.policy.DeletePolicy(name); err != nil {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -640,7 +652,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleEnableAudit(
 	// Attempt enabling
 	if err := b.Core.enableAudit(me); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: enable audit %#v failed: %v", me, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -653,7 +665,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleDisableAudit(
 	// Attempt disable
 	if err := b.Core.disableAudit(path); err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: disable audit '%s' failed: %v", path, err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -673,7 +685,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRawRead(
 
 	entry, err := b.Core.barrier.Get(path)
 	if err != nil {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	if entry == nil {
 		return nil, nil
@@ -724,7 +736,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRawDelete(
 	}
 
 	if err := b.Core.barrier.Delete(path); err != nil {
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	return nil, nil
 }
@@ -754,7 +766,7 @@ func (b *SystemBackend) handleRotate(
 	newTerm, err := b.Core.barrier.Rotate()
 	if err != nil {
 		b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[ERR] sys: failed to create new encryption key: %v", err)
-		return logical.ErrorResponse(err.Error()), logical.ErrInvalidRequest
+		return handleError(err)
 	}
 	b.Backend.Logger().Printf("[INFO] sys: installed new encryption key")
 
diff --git a/vault/mount.go b/vault/mount.go
index 3a85845252..b5c768b580 100644
--- a/vault/mount.go
+++ b/vault/mount.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const (
 	// barrier view for the backends.
 	backendBarrierPrefix = "logical/"
 
-	// systemBarrierPrefix is sthe prefix used for the
+	// systemBarrierPrefix is the prefix used for the
 	// system logical backend.
 	systemBarrierPrefix = "sys/"
 )
@@ -139,16 +139,16 @@ func (c *Core) mount(me *MountEntry) error {
 		me.Path += "/"
 	}
 
-	// Prevent protected paths from being unmounted
+	// Prevent protected paths from being mounted
 	for _, p := range protectedMounts {
 		if strings.HasPrefix(me.Path, p) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("cannot mount '%s'", me.Path)
+			return logical.CodedError(403, fmt.Sprintf("cannot mount '%s'", me.Path))
 		}
 	}
 
 	// Verify there is no conflicting mount
 	if match := c.router.MatchingMount(me.Path); match != "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("existing mount at '%s'", match)
+		return logical.CodedError(409, fmt.Sprintf("existing mount at %s", match))
 	}
 
 	// Generate a new UUID and view