diff --git a/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/wasm.rs b/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/wasm.rs
index c2551a40f1..4080e03ecd 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/wasm.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_asset/src/io/wasm.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,10 @@ impl HttpWasmAssetReader {
                 let reader = VecReader::new(bytes);
                 Ok(reader)
             }
-            404 => Err(AssetReaderError::NotFound(path)),
+            // Some web servers, including itch.io's CDN, return 403 when a requested file isn't present.
+            // TODO: remove handling of 403 as not found when it's easier to configure
+            // see https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy/pull/19268#pullrequestreview-2882410105
+            403 | 404 => Err(AssetReaderError::NotFound(path)),
             status => Err(AssetReaderError::HttpError(status)),
         }
     }