diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/users.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/users.py
index 8eb658c81bf..ed652790b01 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/users.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/api/users.py
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ class UserAPIController(BaseGalaxyAPIController, UsesTagsMixin, BaseUIController
                 else:
                     user = trans.user
             else:
-                return managers_base.get_object(
+                user = managers_base.get_object(
                     trans,
                     user_id,
                     "User",
@@ -306,9 +306,7 @@ class UserAPIController(BaseGalaxyAPIController, UsesTagsMixin, BaseUIController
             # check that the user is requesting themselves (and they aren't del'd) unless admin
             if not trans.user_is_admin:
                 if trans.user != user or user.deleted:
-                    raise exceptions.InsufficientPermissionsException(
-                        "You are not allowed to perform action on that user", id=user_id
-                    )
+                    raise exceptions.RequestParameterInvalidException("Invalid user id specified", id=user_id)
             return user
         except exceptions.MessageException:
             raise