diff --git a/src/api/views.py b/src/api/views.py
index f84f4439f..10507fd7f 100644
--- a/src/api/views.py
+++ b/src/api/views.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ DOMAIN_API_MESSAGES = {
     ),
     "invalid": "Enter a domain using only letters, numbers, or hyphens (though we don't recommend using hyphens).",
     "success": "That domain is available!",
-    "error": GenericError._error_mapping[GenericErrorCodes.CANNOT_CONTACT_REGISTRY],
+    "error": GenericError.get_error_mapping(GenericErrorCodes.CANNOT_CONTACT_REGISTRY),
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/registrar/utility/errors.py b/src/registrar/utility/errors.py
index 93b8855f3..7edf11deb 100644
--- a/src/registrar/utility/errors.py
+++ b/src/registrar/utility/errors.py
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ contact help@get.gov.
     def __str__(self):
         return f"{self.message}"
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_error_mapping(self, code=None):
+        return self._error_mapping.get(code)
+
 
 class NameserverErrorCodes(IntEnum):
     """Used in the NameserverError class for