diff --git a/src/http/ngx_http_file_cache.c b/src/http/ngx_http_file_cache.c
index 24bb5494a..0d5880642 100644
--- a/src/http/ngx_http_file_cache.c
+++ b/src/http/ngx_http_file_cache.c
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ ngx_http_file_cache_read(ngx_http_request_t *r, ngx_http_cache_t *c)
     if ((size_t) n < c->header_start) {
         ngx_log_error(NGX_LOG_CRIT, r->connection->log, 0,
                       "cache file \"%s\" is too small", c->file.name.data);
-        return NGX_ERROR;
+        return NGX_DECLINED;
     }
 
     h = (ngx_http_file_cache_header_t *) c->buf->pos;