diff --git a/components/public-api-server/pkg/proxy/errors.go b/components/public-api-server/pkg/proxy/errors.go
index 9a3f2b556b138a..fa00dd1b8fa296 100644
--- a/components/public-api-server/pkg/proxy/errors.go
+++ b/components/public-api-server/pkg/proxy/errors.go
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ func ConvertError(err error) error {
 		return status.Error(codes.PermissionDenied, s)
 	}
 
+	// components/gitpod-protocol/src/messaging/error.ts
+	if strings.Contains(s, "code 403") {
+		return status.Error(codes.PermissionDenied, s)
+	}
+
 	// components/gitpod-protocol/src/messaging/error.ts
 	if strings.Contains(s, "code 404") {
 		return status.Error(codes.NotFound, s)