diff --git a/api/utils/serializer/v1/serializer.py b/api/utils/serializer/v1/serializer.py
index 9d3b9df..fe97977 100644
--- a/api/utils/serializer/v1/serializer.py
+++ b/api/utils/serializer/v1/serializer.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Created on: 24.01.22
 import json
 
 from django.contrib.gis.geos import MultiPolygon
+from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.db.models import QuerySet
 
 from api.utils.serializer.serializer import AbstractModelAPISerializer
@@ -80,10 +81,14 @@ class AbstractModelAPISerializerV1(AbstractModelAPISerializer):
         json_str = str(json_str)
         if len(json_str) == 0:
             return None
-        code = KonovaCode.objects.get(
-            atom_id=json_str,
-            code_lists__in=[code_list_identifier]
-        )
+        try:
+            code = KonovaCode.objects.get(
+                atom_id=json_str,
+                code_lists__in=[code_list_identifier]
+            )
+        except ObjectDoesNotExist as e:
+            msg = f"{e.args[0]} ({json_str} not found in official list {code_list_identifier})"
+            raise ObjectDoesNotExist(msg)
         return code
 
     def _created_on_to_json(self, entry):