diff --git a/supabase/functions/detect-location/index.ts b/supabase/functions/detect-location/index.ts
index 5acd45b0..c26fef0d 100644
--- a/supabase/functions/detect-location/index.ts
+++ b/supabase/functions/detect-location/index.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ serve(async (req) => {
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error detecting location:', error);
     
-    // Return default (metric) on error
+    // Return default (metric) with 500 status to indicate error occurred
+    // This allows proper error monitoring while still providing fallback data
     const defaultResult: IPLocationResponse = {
       country: 'Unknown',
       countryCode: 'XX',
@@ -87,13 +88,17 @@ serve(async (req) => {
     };
 
     return new Response(
-      JSON.stringify(defaultResult),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        ...defaultResult,
+        error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Failed to detect location',
+        fallback: true
+      }),
       { 
         headers: { 
           ...corsHeaders, 
           'Content-Type': 'application/json' 
         },
-        status: 200 // Return 200 even on error to provide fallback
+        status: 500
       }
     );
   }