diff --git a/field_collection.pages.inc b/field_collection.pages.inc
index 8543390..e21bcd6 100644
--- a/field_collection.pages.inc
+++ b/field_collection.pages.inc
@@ -118,8 +118,7 @@ function field_collection_item_add($field_name, $entity_type, $entity_id, $revis
   $langcode = !empty($field['translatable']) ? entity_language($entity_type, $entity) : LANGUAGE_NONE;
 
   if (!($field['cardinality'] == FIELD_CARDINALITY_UNLIMITED || !isset($entity->{$field_name}[$langcode]) || count($entity->{$field_name}[$langcode]) < $field['cardinality'])) {
-    drupal_set_message(t('Too many items.'), 'error');
-    return '';
+    return MENU_ACCESS_DENIED;
   }
 
   $field_collection_item = entity_create('field_collection_item', array('field_name' => $field_name));
diff --git a/field_collection.test b/field_collection.test
index 051ee46..02ced78 100644
--- a/field_collection.test
+++ b/field_collection.test
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ class FieldCollectionBasicTestCase extends DrupalWebTestCase {
     // Make sure adding doesn't work any more as we have restricted cardinality
     // to 1.
     $this->drupalGet($path);
-    $this->assertText(t('Too many items.'), 'Maxium cardinality has been reached.');
+    $this->assertResponse(403);
 
     $this->drupalPost('field-collection/field-test-collection/1/delete', array(), t('Delete'));
     $this->drupalGet($path);