diff --git a/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustAbility.php b/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustAbility.php
index 13f0cf93..2e8556df 100644
--- a/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustAbility.php
+++ b/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustAbility.php
@@ -52,7 +52,13 @@ public function handle($request, Closure $next, $roles, $permissions, $validateA
 		}
 
 		if ($this->auth->guest() || !$request->user()->ability($roles, $permissions, [ 'validate_all' => $validateAll ])) {
-			abort(403);
+	    	
+	    	if ($request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
+        		return response('Unauthorized.', 401);
+			} else {
+        		abort(403);
+			}
+
 		}
 
 		return $next($request);
diff --git a/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustPermission.php b/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustPermission.php
index 6058f337..69877348 100644
--- a/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustPermission.php
+++ b/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustPermission.php
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@ public function handle($request, Closure $next, $permissions)
 		}
 
 		if ($this->auth->guest() || !$request->user()->can($permissions)) {
-			abort(403);
+
+	    	if ($request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
+        		return response('Unauthorized.', 401);
+			} else {
+        		abort(403);
+			}
+
 		}
 
 		return $next($request);
diff --git a/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustRole.php b/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustRole.php
index f872f50d..8f83256b 100644
--- a/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustRole.php
+++ b/src/Entrust/Middleware/EntrustRole.php
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@ public function handle($request, Closure $next, $roles)
 		}
 
 		if ($this->auth->guest() || !$request->user()->hasRole($roles)) {
-			abort(403);
+
+	    	if ($request->ajax() || $request->wantsJson()) {
+        		return response('Unauthorized.', 401);
+			} else {
+        		abort(403);
+			}
+
 		}
 
 		return $next($request);