diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/utils_folders.py b/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/utils_folders.py
index 15ae70993fc..e0f59cdcfd2 100644
--- a/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/utils_folders.py
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/utils_folders.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import logging
 import re
 import uuid
 from collections.abc import Iterable
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@
     Field,
     NonNegativeInt,
     PositiveInt,
+    ValidationError,
     parse_obj_as,
 )
 from pydantic.errors import PydanticErrorMixin
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@
 from .models.groups import GroupType, groups
 from .utils_ordering import OrderDirection
 
-_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
 _ProductName: TypeAlias = str
 _ProjectID: TypeAlias = uuid.UUID
 _GroupID: TypeAlias = PositiveInt
@@ -530,7 +528,10 @@ async def folder_create(
         GroupIdDoesNotExistError
         RootFolderRequiresAtLeastOnePrimaryGroupError
     """
-    parse_obj_as(FolderName, name)
+    try:
+        parse_obj_as(FolderName, name)
+    except ValidationError as exc:
+        raise InvalidFolderNameError(name=name, reason=f"{exc}") from exc
 
     async with connection.begin():
         entry_exists: int | None = await connection.scalar(
diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/tests/test_utils_folders.py b/packages/postgres-database/tests/test_utils_folders.py
index 9bfc1d4f04e..8c49fd9914f 100644
--- a/packages/postgres-database/tests/test_utils_folders.py
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/tests/test_utils_folders.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from aiopg.sa.connection import SAConnection
 from aiopg.sa.result import RowProxy
-from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, NonNegativeInt, ValidationError
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, NonNegativeInt
 from pytest_simcore.helpers.faker_factories import random_product
 from simcore_postgres_database.models.folders import (
     folders,
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ async def default_product_name(
     ],
 )
 async def test_folder_create_wrong_folder_name(invalid_name: str):
-    with pytest.raises((InvalidFolderNameError, ValidationError)):
+    with pytest.raises(InvalidFolderNameError):
         await folder_create(Mock(), "mock_product", invalid_name, Mock())
 
 
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/folders/_folders_handlers.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/folders/_folders_handlers.py
index ed8f6108df6..1e67d43c6d8 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/folders/_folders_handlers.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/folders/_folders_handlers.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 from servicelib.mimetype_constants import MIMETYPE_APPLICATION_JSON
 from servicelib.request_keys import RQT_USERID_KEY
 from servicelib.rest_constants import RESPONSE_MODEL_POLICY
+from simcore_postgres_database.utils_folders import FoldersError
 
 from .._constants import RQ_PRODUCT_KEY
 from .._meta import API_VTAG as VTAG
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ async def wrapper(request: web.Request) -> web.StreamResponse:
         except FolderAccessForbiddenError as exc:
             raise web.HTTPForbidden(reason=f"{exc}") from exc
 
+        except FoldersError as exc:
+            raise web.HTTPBadRequest(reason=f"{exc}") from exc
+
     return wrapper