diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/event.router.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/event.router.ts
index ed23ecf9..043525c0 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/event.router.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/event.router.ts
@@ -18,13 +18,15 @@ const eventRouter: FastifyPluginCallback = (fastify, opts, done) => {
     ) => {
       try {
         const client = await validateSdkRequest(req.headers).catch((error) => {
-          if (!(error instanceof SdkAuthError)) {
-            logger.error(error, 'Failed to validate sdk request');
+          if (error instanceof SdkAuthError) {
+            return reply.status(401).send(error.message);
           }
-          return null;
+          logger.error(error, 'Failed to validate sdk request');
+          return reply.status(401).send('Unknown validation error');
         });
+
         if (!client?.projectId) {
-          return reply.status(401).send();
+          return reply.status(401).send('No project found for this client');
         }
         req.projectId = client.projectId;
         req.client = client;
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/profile.router.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/profile.router.ts
index 891ddeaf..b0c534c8 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/profile.router.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/profile.router.ts
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ const eventRouter: FastifyPluginCallback = (fastify, opts, done) => {
   fastify.addHook('preHandler', async (req, reply) => {
     try {
       const client = await validateSdkRequest(req.headers).catch((error) => {
-        if (!(error instanceof SdkAuthError)) {
-          logger.error(error, 'Failed to validate sdk request');
+        if (error instanceof SdkAuthError) {
+          return reply.status(401).send(error.message);
         }
-        return null;
+        logger.error(error, 'Failed to validate sdk request');
+        return reply.status(401).send('Unknown validation error');
       });
+
       if (!client?.projectId) {
-        return reply.status(401).send();
+        return reply.status(401).send('No project found for this client');
       }
       req.projectId = client.projectId;
       req.client = client;
diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/track.router.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/track.router.ts
index 3cedf61e..8849b35e 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/track.router.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/track.router.ts
@@ -18,14 +18,15 @@ const trackRouter: FastifyPluginCallback = (fastify, opts, done) => {
     ) => {
       try {
         const client = await validateSdkRequest(req.headers).catch((error) => {
-          if (!(error instanceof SdkAuthError)) {
-            logger.error(error, 'Failed to validate sdk request');
+          if (error instanceof SdkAuthError) {
+            return reply.status(401).send(error.message);
           }
-          return null;
+          logger.error(error, 'Failed to validate sdk request');
+          return reply.status(401).send('Unknown validation error');
         });
 
         if (!client?.projectId) {
-          return reply.status(401).send();
+          return reply.status(401).send('No project found for this client');
         }
 
         req.projectId = client.projectId;