diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java
index 9215c861..9773d3f0 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/actions/tables/InsertAction.java
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.Association;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.QTableMetaData;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.tables.UniqueKey;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.statusmessages.BadInputStatusMessage;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.statusmessages.DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.statusmessages.QWarningMessage;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.backend.QBackendModuleDispatcher;
 import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.modules.backend.QBackendModuleInterface;
@@ -414,7 +415,7 @@ public class InsertAction extends AbstractQActionFunction<InsertInput, InsertOut
                Optional<List<Serializable>> keyValues = UniqueKeyHelper.getKeyValues(table, uniqueKey, record);
                if(keyValues.isPresent() && (existingKeys.get(uniqueKey).contains(keyValues.get()) || keysInThisList.get(uniqueKey).contains(keyValues.get())))
                {
-                  record.addError(new BadInputStatusMessage("Another record already exists with this " + uniqueKey.getDescription(table)));
+                  record.addError(new DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage("Another record already exists with this " + uniqueKey.getDescription(table)));
                   foundDupe = true;
                   break;
                }
diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/statusmessages/DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/statusmessages/DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba26a029
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/statusmessages/DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage.java
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2024.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.statusmessages;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ ** specialization of bad-input status message, specifically for the case of
+ ** a duplicated key (e.g., unique-key validation error)
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public class DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage extends BadInputStatusMessage
+{
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** Constructor
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public DuplicateKeyBadInputStatusMessage(String message)
+   {
+      super(message);
+   }
+}