diff --git a/moto/awslambda/responses.py b/moto/awslambda/responses.py
index d4eb73bc..1c43ef84 100644
--- a/moto/awslambda/responses.py
+++ b/moto/awslambda/responses.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class LambdaResponse(BaseResponse):
         fn = self.lambda_backend.publish_function(function_name)
         if fn:
             config = fn.get_configuration()
-            return 200, {}, json.dumps(config)
+            return 201, {}, json.dumps(config)
         else:
             return 404, {}, "{}"
 
diff --git a/tests/test_awslambda/test_lambda.py b/tests/test_awslambda/test_lambda.py
index 7f3b44b7..479aaaa8 100644
--- a/tests/test_awslambda/test_lambda.py
+++ b/tests/test_awslambda/test_lambda.py
@@ -471,7 +471,8 @@ def test_publish():
     function_list['Functions'].should.have.length_of(1)
     latest_arn = function_list['Functions'][0]['FunctionArn']
 
-    conn.publish_version(FunctionName='testFunction')
+    res = conn.publish_version(FunctionName='testFunction')
+    assert res['ResponseMetadata']['HTTPStatusCode'] == 201
 
     function_list = conn.list_functions()
     function_list['Functions'].should.have.length_of(2)
@@ -853,8 +854,8 @@ def test_list_versions_by_function():
         Publish=True,
     )
 
-    conn.publish_version(FunctionName='testFunction')
-
+    res = conn.publish_version(FunctionName='testFunction')
+    assert res['ResponseMetadata']['HTTPStatusCode'] == 201
     versions = conn.list_versions_by_function(FunctionName='testFunction')
 
     assert versions['Versions'][0]['FunctionArn'] == 'arn:aws:lambda:us-west-2:123456789012:function:testFunction:$LATEST'