diff --git a/app/celery/tasks.py b/app/celery/tasks.py
index 57a7c5bc8..3b065f9fc 100644
--- a/app/celery/tasks.py
+++ b/app/celery/tasks.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ from app.models import (
     LETTER_TYPE,
     NOTIFICATION_DELIVERED,
     NOTIFICATION_SENDING,
+    NOTIFICATION_TEMPORARY_FAILURE,
     NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE,
     SMS_TYPE,
 )
@@ -476,7 +477,7 @@ def update_letter_notifications_statuses(self, filename):
     else:
         for update in notification_updates:
             status = NOTIFICATION_DELIVERED if update.status == DVLA_RESPONSE_STATUS_SENT \
-                else NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE
+                else NOTIFICATION_TEMPORARY_FAILURE
             updated_count = dao_update_notifications_by_reference(
                 references=[update.reference],
                 update_dict={"status": status,
diff --git a/tests/app/celery/test_ftp_update_tasks.py b/tests/app/celery/test_ftp_update_tasks.py
index 880189297..135f8e240 100644
--- a/tests/app/celery/test_ftp_update_tasks.py
+++ b/tests/app/celery/test_ftp_update_tasks.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from app.models import (
     NOTIFICATION_CREATED,
     NOTIFICATION_DELIVERED,
     NOTIFICATION_SENDING,
+    NOTIFICATION_TEMPORARY_FAILURE,
     NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE
 )
 from app.celery.tasks import (
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ def test_update_letter_notifications_statuses_persisted(notify_api, mocker, samp
     assert sent_letter.status == NOTIFICATION_DELIVERED
     assert sent_letter.billable_units == 1
     assert sent_letter.updated_at
-    assert failed_letter.status == NOTIFICATION_TECHNICAL_FAILURE
+    assert failed_letter.status == NOTIFICATION_TEMPORARY_FAILURE
     assert failed_letter.billable_units == 2
     assert failed_letter.updated_at