diff --git a/proposals/1802-standardised-federation-response-format.md b/proposals/1802-standardised-federation-response-format.md
index da18c254..bd8b1189 100644
--- a/proposals/1802-standardised-federation-response-format.md
+++ b/proposals/1802-standardised-federation-response-format.md
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ This proposal doesn't address the `PUT
 of it.
 
 If a call to any of the `v2` endpoints described in this proposal results in an
-unrecognised request exception, then the sending server should retry the request
-with the `v1` API.
+unrecognised request exception (i.e. in a response with a 400 or a 404 status
+code), then the sending server should retry the request with the `v1` API.
 
 ## Alternative solutions