diff --git a/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py b/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..103f1bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/graphql/errors/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+from .errors import ObjectNotFoundError
+from .handlers import format_error
+
+__all__ = ["ObjectNotFoundError", "format_error"]
diff --git a/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py b/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a59444
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/graphql/errors/errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+class ObjectNotFoundError(Exception):
+    """
+    """
diff --git a/swh/graphql/errors/handlers.py b/swh/graphql/errors/handlers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d13115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/swh/graphql/errors/handlers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+def format_error(error) -> dict:
+    """
+    Response error formatting
+    """
+    formatted = error.formatted
+    formatted["message"] = "Unknown error"
+    return formatted
diff --git a/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py b/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py
index 52f65c5..21c1fd4 100644
--- a/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py
+++ b/swh/graphql/resolvers/base_node.py
@@ -1,50 +1,62 @@
 from abc import ABC
 from collections import namedtuple
 
+from swh.graphql.errors import ObjectNotFoundError
+
 
 class BaseNode(ABC):
     """
     Base class for all the Node resolvers
     """
 
     def __init__(self, obj, info, node_data=None, **kwargs):
         self.obj = obj
         self.info = info
         self.kwargs = kwargs
         self._set_node(node_data)
 
     def _set_node(self, node_data):
         if node_data is None:
             node_data = self._get_node_data()
         self._node = self._get_node_from_data(node_data)
 
     def _get_node_from_data(self, node_data):
         """
         Create an object from the dict
         Override to support complex data structures
         """
+        if node_data is None:
+            self._handle_none_data()
+
         if type(node_data) is dict:
             return namedtuple("NodeObj", node_data.keys())(*node_data.values())
         return node_data
 
+    def _handle_none_data(self):
+        """
+        raise and error in case the object returned is None
+        override for desired behaviour
+        """
+        raise ObjectNotFoundError("Requested object is not available")
+
     def __call__(self, *args, **kw):
         return self
 
     def _get_node_data(self):
         """
         Override for desired behaviour
         This will be called only when
         node_data is not available
         """
         # FIXME, make this call async (not for v1)
         return None
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         """
         Any property defined in the sub-class
         will get precedence over the _node attributes
         """
         return getattr(self._node, name)
 
     def is_type_of(self):
         return self.__class__.__name__