diff --git a/dandiapi/api/tests/test_version.py b/dandiapi/api/tests/test_version.py
index a86bd73c9..f2fe2ee1a 100644
--- a/dandiapi/api/tests/test_version.py
+++ b/dandiapi/api/tests/test_version.py
@@ -678,14 +678,24 @@ def test_version_rest_publish_not_a_draft(api_client, user, published_version, a
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    'status',
+    'status,expected_data,expected_status_code',
     [
-        Version.Status.PENDING,
-        Version.Status.VALIDATING,
-        Version.Status.INVALID,
+        (Version.Status.PENDING, 'Dandiset metadata or asset metadata is not valid', 400),
+        (Version.Status.VALIDATING, 'Dandiset is currently being validated', 409),
+        (Version.Status.INVALID, 'Dandiset metadata or asset metadata is not valid', 400),
+        (Version.Status.PUBLISHED, 'No changes since last publish', 400),
+        (Version.Status.PUBLISHING, 'Dandiset is currently being published', 423),
     ],
 )
-def test_version_rest_publish_invalid_metadata(api_client, user, draft_version, asset, status):
+def test_version_rest_publish_invalid(
+    api_client: APIClient,
+    user: User,
+    draft_version: Version,
+    asset: Asset,
+    status: str,
+    expected_data: str,
+    expected_status_code: int,
+):
     assign_perm('owner', user, draft_version.dandiset)
     api_client.force_authenticate(user=user)
     draft_version.assets.add(asset)
@@ -697,8 +707,8 @@ def test_version_rest_publish_invalid_metadata(api_client, user, draft_version,
         f'/api/dandisets/{draft_version.dandiset.identifier}'
         f'/versions/{draft_version.version}/publish/'
     )
-    assert resp.status_code == 400
-    assert resp.data == 'Dandiset metadata or asset metadata is not valid'
+    assert resp.status_code == expected_status_code
+    assert resp.data == expected_data
 
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
diff --git a/dandiapi/api/views/version.py b/dandiapi/api/views/version.py
index 1b8a3480a..c9defa7df 100644
--- a/dandiapi/api/views/version.py
+++ b/dandiapi/api/views/version.py
@@ -124,14 +124,28 @@ def publish(self, request, **kwargs):
         ):
             raise ValidationError('Cannot publish dandisets which contain zarrs')
         if not version.valid:
-            resp_text = (
-                'No changes since last publish'
-                if version.status == Version.Status.PUBLISHED
-                else 'Dandiset is currently being published'
-                if version.status == Version.Status.PUBLISHING
-                else 'Dandiset metadata or asset metadata is not valid'
-            )
-            return Response(resp_text, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+            match version.status:
+                case Version.Status.PUBLISHED:
+                    resp_text, resp_status = (
+                        'No changes since last publish',
+                        status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                    )
+                case Version.Status.PUBLISHING:
+                    resp_text, resp_status = (
+                        'Dandiset is currently being published',
+                        status.HTTP_423_LOCKED,
+                    )
+                case Version.Status.VALIDATING:
+                    resp_text, resp_status = (
+                        'Dandiset is currently being validated',
+                        status.HTTP_409_CONFLICT,
+                    )
+                case _:
+                    resp_text, resp_status = (
+                        'Dandiset metadata or asset metadata is not valid',
+                        status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                    )
+            return Response(resp_text, status=resp_status)
 
         version.status = Version.Status.PUBLISHING
         version.save(update_fields=['status'])