diff --git a/go/internal/handler/handler.go b/go/internal/handler/handler.go
index cdf23b9..4ba55c3 100644
--- a/go/internal/handler/handler.go
+++ b/go/internal/handler/handler.go
@@ -386,10 +386,16 @@ func (h *Handler) UpdateAvatar(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		ContentType: r.Header.Get("Content-Type"),
 	}, r.Body)
 	if err != nil {
+		var maxErr *http.MaxBytesError
+		if errors.As(err, &maxErr) {
+			http.Error(w, "avatar file too large", http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge)
+			return
+		}
 		flog.Error("failed to upload avatar with depo", "error", err, "humanId", humanId)
 		http.Error(w, "internal server error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
+	}
 
 	err = h.humanSvc.UpdateAvatar(r.Context(), humanId, object.ID)
 	if err != nil {