diff --git a/polytope_server/common/datasource/polytope.py b/polytope_server/common/datasource/polytope.py
index 8a547f6..d2598a9 100644
--- a/polytope_server/common/datasource/polytope.py
+++ b/polytope_server/common/datasource/polytope.py
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 import logging
 import os
 
-from polytope_mars.api import PolytopeMars
-
 import yaml
+from polytope.utility.exceptions import PolytopeError
+from polytope_mars.api import PolytopeMars
 
 from . import datasource
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def __init__(self, config):
         self.config_file = "/tmp/gribjump.yaml"
         with open(self.config_file, "w") as f:
             f.write(yaml.dump(self.config["gribjump_config"]))
-        self.config['datacube']['config'] = self.config_file
+        self.config["datacube"]["config"] = self.config_file
         os.environ["GRIBJUMP_CONFIG_FILE"] = self.config_file
 
         self.polytope_options = self.config.get("polytope-options", {})
@@ -60,8 +60,12 @@ def retrieve(self, request):
         r = yaml.safe_load(request.user_request)
         logging.info(r)
 
-        self.output = self.polytope_mars.extract(r)
-        self.output = json.dumps(self.output).encode("utf-8")
+        try:
+            self.output = self.polytope_mars.extract(r)
+            self.output = json.dumps(self.output).encode("utf-8")
+        except PolytopeError as e:
+            self.output = json.dumps({"error": str(e)}).encode("utf-8")
+            raise e
         # logging.info(self.output)
         return True