diff --git a/lib/crowdsec.lua b/lib/crowdsec.lua
index 0bb960f..1106a38 100644
--- a/lib/crowdsec.lua
+++ b/lib/crowdsec.lua
@@ -688,6 +688,8 @@ function csmod.AppSecCheck(ip)
   if runtime.conf["APPSEC_FAILURE_ACTION"] == DENY then
     ok = false
     remediation = runtime.conf["FALLBACK_REMEDIATION"]
+    -- no status from the appsec: let the remediation use its own (RET_CODE for ban)
+    status_code = nil
   end
 
   local method = "GET"
diff --git a/t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny.t b/t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny.t
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79768b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny.t
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+use Test::Nginx::Socket 'no_plan';
+
+run_tests();
+
+__DATA__
+
+=== TEST 1: APPSEC_FAILURE_ACTION=deny returns 403 when the appsec is unreachable
+
+--- main_config
+load_module /usr/share/nginx/modules/ndk_http_module.so;
+load_module /usr/share/nginx/modules/ngx_http_lua_module.so;
+
+--- http_config
+
+lua_package_path './lib/?.lua;;';
+lua_shared_dict crowdsec_cache 50m;
+lua_ssl_trusted_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt;
+
+
+init_by_lua_block
+{
+        cs = require "crowdsec"
+        local ok, err = cs.init("./t/conf_t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny_crowdsec_nginx_bouncer.conf", "crowdsec-nginx-bouncer/v1.0.8")
+        if ok == nil then
+                ngx.log(ngx.ERR, "[Crowdsec] " .. err)
+                error()
+        end
+        ngx.log(ngx.ALERT, "[Crowdsec] Initialisation done")
+}
+
+access_by_lua_block {
+        local cs = require "crowdsec"
+        cs.Allow(ngx.var.remote_addr)
+}
+
+server {
+    listen 8081;
+
+       location = /v1/decisions {
+            content_by_lua_block {
+                ngx.print('null')
+            }
+       }
+}
+
+
+--- config
+
+
+location = /t {
+    set_real_ip_from 127.0.0.1;
+    real_ip_header   X-Forwarded-For;
+    real_ip_recursive on;
+    content_by_lua_block {
+        ngx.say("Hello, world")
+    }
+}
+
+--- more_headers
+X-Forwarded-For: 1.1.1.2
+
+--- request
+GET /t
+
+--- error_code: 403
+
+
+
+=== TEST 2: APPSEC_FAILURE_ACTION=deny returns 403 when the appsec answers with an error
+
+--- main_config
+load_module /usr/share/nginx/modules/ndk_http_module.so;
+load_module /usr/share/nginx/modules/ngx_http_lua_module.so;
+
+--- http_config
+
+lua_package_path './lib/?.lua;;';
+lua_shared_dict crowdsec_cache 50m;
+lua_ssl_trusted_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt;
+
+
+init_by_lua_block
+{
+        cs = require "crowdsec"
+        local ok, err = cs.init("./t/conf_t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny_crowdsec_nginx_bouncer.conf", "crowdsec-nginx-bouncer/v1.0.8")
+        if ok == nil then
+                ngx.log(ngx.ERR, "[Crowdsec] " .. err)
+                error()
+        end
+        ngx.log(ngx.ALERT, "[Crowdsec] Initialisation done")
+}
+
+access_by_lua_block {
+        local cs = require "crowdsec"
+        cs.Allow(ngx.var.remote_addr)
+}
+
+server {
+    listen 8081;
+
+       location = /v1/decisions {
+            content_by_lua_block {
+                ngx.print('null')
+            }
+       }
+}
+
+server {
+    listen 7422;
+
+       location / {
+            content_by_lua_block {
+                ngx.status = 500
+                ngx.print('internal error')
+            }
+       }
+}
+
+
+--- config
+
+
+location = /t {
+    set_real_ip_from 127.0.0.1;
+    real_ip_header   X-Forwarded-For;
+    real_ip_recursive on;
+    content_by_lua_block {
+        ngx.say("Hello, world")
+    }
+}
+
+--- more_headers
+X-Forwarded-For: 1.1.1.2
+
+--- request
+GET /t
+
+--- error_code: 403
diff --git a/t/conf_t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny_crowdsec_nginx_bouncer.conf b/t/conf_t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny_crowdsec_nginx_bouncer.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e816a5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/conf_t/26_appsec_failure_action_deny_crowdsec_nginx_bouncer.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+APPSEC_URL=http://127.0.0.1:7422
+ENABLED=true
+API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:8081
+API_KEY=test_key
+CACHE_EXPIRATION=1
+BOUNCING_ON_TYPE=all
+FALLBACK_REMEDIATION=ban
+REQUEST_TIMEOUT=3000
+UPDATE_FREQUENCY=10
+MODE=live
+EXCLUDE_LOCATION=
+BAN_TEMPLATE_PATH=./ban
+REDIRECT_LOCATION=
+RET_CODE=
+CAPTCHA_PROVIDER=
+SECRET_KEY=
+SITE_KEY=
+CAPTCHA_TEMPLATE_PATH=/var/lib/crowdsec/lua/templates/captcha.html
+CAPTCHA_EXPIRATION=3600
+APPSEC_FAILURE_ACTION=deny