diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-widgets.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-widgets.php
index bf0d3eca79..cfd0541aa0 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-widgets.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-customize-widgets.php
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@ final class WP_Customize_Widgets {
 
 		$updated_widget = $this->call_widget_update( $widget_id ); // => {instance,form}
 		if ( is_wp_error( $updated_widget ) ) {
-			wp_send_json_error( $updated_widget->get_error_message() );
+			wp_send_json_error( $updated_widget->get_error_code() );
 		}
 
 		$form = $updated_widget['form'];