diff --git a/src/backend_data_retrieval/data_retrieval_app/external_data_retrieval/data_retrieval/poe_api_handler.py b/src/backend_data_retrieval/data_retrieval_app/external_data_retrieval/data_retrieval/poe_api_handler.py
index c272234b..68440a14 100644
--- a/src/backend_data_retrieval/data_retrieval_app/external_data_retrieval/data_retrieval/poe_api_handler.py
+++ b/src/backend_data_retrieval/data_retrieval_app/external_data_retrieval/data_retrieval/poe_api_handler.py
@@ -229,7 +229,6 @@ async def _send_n_recursion_requests(
                 self.url, params={"id": self.next_change_id}
             ) as response:
                 headers = response.headers
-                response.status = 503
                 if response.status >= 300:
                     if response.status == 429:
                         self.skip_program_too_slow = False