diff --git a/swh/search/api/server.py b/swh/search/api/server.py
--- a/swh/search/api/server.py
+++ b/swh/search/api/server.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from swh.search.metrics import timed
 
 from .. import get_search
+from ..exc import SearchException
 from ..interface import SearchInterface
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -32,6 +33,11 @@
 search = None
 
 
+@app.errorhandler(SearchException)
+def search_error_handler(exception):
+    return error_handler(exception, encode_data, status_code=400)
+
+
 @app.errorhandler(Exception)
 def my_error_handler(exception):
     return error_handler(exception, encode_data)