diff --git a/packages/authentication/src/client/index.js b/packages/authentication/src/client/index.js
index fa1c6ed7e2..0d0547b8df 100644
--- a/packages/authentication/src/client/index.js
+++ b/packages/authentication/src/client/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as hooks from './hooks';
 import { connected, authenticateSocket, getJWT, getStorage } from './utils';
+import errors from 'feathers-errors';
 
 const defaults = {
   tokenKey: 'feathers-jwt',
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ export default function(opts = {}) {
       if (!options.type) {
         getOptions = getJWT(config.tokenKey, this.get('storage')).then(token => {
           if (!token) {
-            return Promise.reject(new Error(`Could not find stored JWT and no authentication type was given`));
+            return Promise.reject(new errors.NotAuthenticated(`Could not find stored JWT and no authentication type was given`));
           }
 
           return { type: 'token', token };
diff --git a/packages/authentication/test/client/index.test.js b/packages/authentication/test/client/index.test.js
index 7160715d7a..3504d848cb 100644
--- a/packages/authentication/test/client/index.test.js
+++ b/packages/authentication/test/client/index.test.js
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ const setupTests = initApp => {
       .then(() => done(new Error('Should never get here')))
       .catch(error => {
         assert.equal(error.message, 'Could not find stored JWT and no authentication type was given');
+        assert.equal(error.code, 401);
         done();
       });
   });