diff --git a/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py b/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py
index e36faf9e..6610d87c 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/apihandlers/users.py
@@ -420,6 +420,7 @@ class UserTokenListAPIHandler(APIHandler):
         # retrieve the model
         token_model = self.token_model(orm.APIToken.find(self.db, api_token))
         token_model['token'] = api_token
+        self.set_status(201)
         self.write(json.dumps(token_model))