diff --git a/interceptors/ratelimit/examples_test.go b/interceptors/ratelimit/examples_test.go
index 9b73fabeb..370bed827 100644
--- a/interceptors/ratelimit/examples_test.go
+++ b/interceptors/ratelimit/examples_test.go
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ import (
 // It does not limit any request because Limit function always returns false.
 type alwaysPassLimiter struct{}
 
-func (*alwaysPassLimiter) Limit(_ context.Context) bool {
-	return false
+func (*alwaysPassLimiter) Limit(_ context.Context) error {
+	return nil
 }
 
 // Simple example of server initialization code.
diff --git a/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit.go b/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit.go
index afc843106..54df8921a 100644
--- a/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit.go
+++ b/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit.go
@@ -9,17 +9,17 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Limiter defines the interface to perform request rate limiting.
-// If Limit function return true, the request will be rejected.
+// If Limit function return an error, the request will be rejected.
 // Otherwise, the request will pass.
 type Limiter interface {
-	Limit(ctx context.Context) bool
+	Limit(ctx context.Context) error
 }
 
 // UnaryServerInterceptor returns a new unary server interceptors that performs request rate limiting.
 func UnaryServerInterceptor(limiter Limiter) grpc.UnaryServerInterceptor {
 	return func(ctx context.Context, req interface{}, info *grpc.UnaryServerInfo, handler grpc.UnaryHandler) (interface{}, error) {
-		if limiter.Limit(ctx) {
-			return nil, status.Errorf(codes.ResourceExhausted, "%s is rejected by grpc_ratelimit middleware, please retry later.", info.FullMethod)
+		if err := limiter.Limit(ctx); err != nil {
+			return nil, status.Errorf(codes.ResourceExhausted, "%s is rejected by grpc_ratelimit middleware, please retry later. %s", info.FullMethod, err)
 		}
 		return handler(ctx, req)
 	}
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ func UnaryServerInterceptor(limiter Limiter) grpc.UnaryServerInterceptor {
 // StreamServerInterceptor returns a new stream server interceptor that performs rate limiting on the request.
 func StreamServerInterceptor(limiter Limiter) grpc.StreamServerInterceptor {
 	return func(srv interface{}, stream grpc.ServerStream, info *grpc.StreamServerInfo, handler grpc.StreamHandler) error {
-		if limiter.Limit(stream.Context()) {
-			return status.Errorf(codes.ResourceExhausted, "%s is rejected by grpc_ratelimit middleware, please retry later.", info.FullMethod)
+		if err := limiter.Limit(stream.Context()); err != nil {
+			return status.Errorf(codes.ResourceExhausted, "%s is rejected by grpc_ratelimit middleware, please retry later. %s", info.FullMethod, err)
 		}
 		return handler(srv, stream)
 	}
diff --git a/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit_test.go b/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit_test.go
index 019f0a5de..8c7c5371f 100644
--- a/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit_test.go
+++ b/interceptors/ratelimit/ratelimit_test.go
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ func (m *mockGRPCServerStream) Context() context.Context {
 
 type mockContextBasedLimiter struct{}
 
-func (*mockContextBasedLimiter) Limit(ctx context.Context) bool {
-	l, ok := ctx.Value(ctxLimitKey).(bool)
-	return ok && l
+func (*mockContextBasedLimiter) Limit(ctx context.Context) error {
+	l, _ := ctx.Value(ctxLimitKey).(error)
+	return l
 }
 
 func TestUnaryServerInterceptor_RateLimitPass(t *testing.T) {
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestUnaryServerInterceptor_RateLimitFail(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	resp, err := interceptor(ctx, nil, info, handler)
 	assert.Nil(t, resp)
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "rpc error: code = ResourceExhausted desc = FakeMethod is rejected by grpc_ratelimit middleware, please retry later.")
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, errMsgFake)
 }
 
 func TestStreamServerInterceptor_RateLimitFail(t *testing.T) {
@@ -89,5 +89,5 @@ func TestStreamServerInterceptor_RateLimitFail(t *testing.T) {
 		FullMethod: "FakeMethod",
 	}
 	err := interceptor(nil, &mockGRPCServerStream{ctx: ctx}, info, handler)
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "rpc error: code = ResourceExhausted desc = FakeMethod is rejected by grpc_ratelimit middleware, please retry later.")
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, errMsgFake)
 }