diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_binding.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_binding.erl
index a35b07e73e9d..fde322bfaa95 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_binding.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_binding.erl
@@ -413,11 +413,11 @@ get_all_in_mnesia() ->
       end).
 
 get_all_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:tab2list(Table)]
+    try
+        [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:tab2list(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 -spec get_all(VHostName) -> [Binding] when
@@ -444,15 +444,16 @@ get_all_in_mnesia(VHost) ->
     [B || #route{binding = B} <- rabbit_db:list_in_mnesia(?MNESIA_TABLE, Match)].
 
 get_all_in_khepri(VHost) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            VHostResource = rabbit_misc:r(VHost, '_'),
-            Match = #route{binding = #binding{source      = VHostResource,
-                                              destination = VHostResource,
-                                              _           = '_'}},
-            [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(Table, Match)]
+    try
+        VHostResource = rabbit_misc:r(VHost, '_'),
+        Match = #route{binding = #binding{source      = VHostResource,
+                                          destination = VHostResource,
+                                          _           = '_'}},
+        [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(
+                                       ?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION, Match)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 -spec get_all(Src, Dst, Reverse) -> [Binding] when
@@ -481,14 +482,15 @@ get_all_in_mnesia(SrcName, DstName, Reverse) ->
     mnesia:async_dirty(Fun).
 
 get_all_in_khepri(SrcName, DstName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            MatchHead = #route{binding = #binding{source      = SrcName,
-                                                  destination = DstName,
-                                                  _           = '_'}},
-            [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(Table, MatchHead)]
+    try
+        MatchHead = #route{binding = #binding{source      = SrcName,
+                                              destination = DstName,
+                                              _           = '_'}},
+        [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(
+                                       ?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION, MatchHead)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -528,12 +530,13 @@ list_for_route(Route, true) ->
     end.
 
 get_all_for_source_in_khepri(Resource) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            Route = #route{binding = #binding{source = Resource, _ = '_'}},
-            [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(Table, Route)]
+    try
+        Route = #route{binding = #binding{source = Resource, _ = '_'}},
+        [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(
+                                       ?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION, Route)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -563,13 +566,14 @@ get_all_for_destination_in_mnesia(Dst) ->
     mnesia:async_dirty(Fun).
 
 get_all_for_destination_in_khepri(Destination) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            Match = #route{binding = #binding{destination = Destination,
-                                              _           = '_'}},
-            [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(Table, Match)]
+    try
+        Match = #route{binding = #binding{destination = Destination,
+                                          _           = '_'}},
+        [B || #route{binding = B} <- ets:match_object(
+                                       ?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION, Match)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -644,15 +648,16 @@ match_in_mnesia(SrcName, Match) ->
                  Routes, Match(Binding)].
 
 match_in_khepri(SrcName, Match) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            MatchHead = #route{binding = #binding{source      = SrcName,
-                                                  _           = '_'}},
-            Routes = ets:select(Table, [{MatchHead, [], [['$_']]}]),
-            [Dest || [#route{binding = Binding = #binding{destination = Dest}}] <-
-                         Routes, Match(Binding)]
+    try
+        MatchHead = #route{binding = #binding{source      = SrcName,
+                                              _           = '_'}},
+        Routes = ets:select(
+                   ?KHEPRI_BINDINGS_PROJECTION, [{MatchHead, [], [['$_']]}]),
+        [Dest || [#route{binding = Binding = #binding{destination = Dest}}] <-
+                     Routes, Match(Binding)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% Routing - HOT CODE PATH
@@ -686,26 +691,22 @@ match_routing_key_in_mnesia(SrcName, RoutingKeys, UseIndex) ->
             route_in_mnesia_v1(SrcName, RoutingKeys)
     end.
 
+match_routing_key_in_khepri(Src, ['_']) ->
+    try
+        MatchHead = #index_route{source_key  = {Src, '_'},
+                                 destination = '$1',
+                                 _           = '_'},
+        ets:select(?KHEPRI_INDEX_ROUTE_PROJECTION, [{MatchHead, [], ['$1']}])
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
+    end;
 match_routing_key_in_khepri(Src, RoutingKeys) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_INDEX_ROUTE_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            do_match_routing_key_in_khepri(Table, Src, RoutingKeys)
-    end.
-
-do_match_routing_key_in_khepri(Table, Src, ['_']) ->
-    MatchHead = #index_route{source_key  = {Src, '_'},
-                             destination = '$1',
-                             _           = '_'},
-    ets:select(Table, [{MatchHead, [], ['$1']}]);
-
-do_match_routing_key_in_khepri(Table, Src, RoutingKeys) ->
     lists:foldl(
       fun(RK, Acc) ->
               try
                   Dst = ets:lookup_element(
-                          Table,
+                          ?KHEPRI_INDEX_ROUTE_PROJECTION,
                           {Src, RK},
                           #index_route.destination),
                   Dst ++ Acc
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl
index 6d912dc71cf2..1b0a2382b544 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl
@@ -183,14 +183,12 @@ get_in_mnesia(Name) ->
     rabbit_mnesia:dirty_read({?MNESIA_TABLE, Name}).
 
 get_in_khepri(Name) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            {error, not_found};
-        Table ->
-            case ets:lookup(Table, Name) of
-                [X] -> {ok, X};
-                []  -> {error, not_found}
-            end
+    try ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Name) of
+        [X] -> {ok, X};
+        []  -> {error, not_found}
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            {error, not_found}
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -233,11 +231,11 @@ get_many_in_mnesia(Table, Names) when is_list(Names) ->
     lists:append([ets:lookup(Table, Name) || Name <- Names]).
 
 get_many_in_khepri(Names) when is_list(Names) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            lists:append([ets:lookup(Table, Name) || Name <- Names])
+    try
+        lists:append([ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Name) || Name <- Names])
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_queue.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_queue.erl
index ed10e9c2a86d..f2d7b512406b 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_queue.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_queue.erl
@@ -110,15 +110,15 @@ get_all_in_mnesia() ->
       end).
 
 get_all_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            list_with_possible_retry_in_khepri(
-              fun() ->
-                      ets:tab2list(Table)
-              end)
-    end.
+    list_with_possible_retry_in_khepri(
+      fun() ->
+              try
+                  ets:tab2list(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION)
+              catch
+                  error:badarg ->
+                      []
+              end
+      end).
 
 -spec get_all(VHostName) -> [Queue] when
       VHostName :: vhost:name(),
@@ -144,16 +144,16 @@ get_all_in_mnesia(VHostName) ->
       end).
 
 get_all_in_khepri(VHostName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            list_with_possible_retry_in_khepri(
-              fun() ->
-                      Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_name(rabbit_misc:r(VHostName, queue)),
-                      ets:match_object(Table, Pattern)
-              end)
-    end.
+    list_with_possible_retry_in_khepri(
+      fun() ->
+              try
+                  Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_name(rabbit_misc:r(VHostName, queue)),
+                  ets:match_object(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Pattern)
+              catch
+                  error:badarg ->
+                      []
+              end
+      end).
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
 %% get_all_durable().
@@ -181,16 +181,16 @@ get_all_durable_in_mnesia() ->
       end).
 
 get_all_durable_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            list_with_possible_retry_in_khepri(
-              fun() ->
-                      Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_durable(true),
-                      ets:match_object(Table, Pattern)
-              end)
-    end.
+    list_with_possible_retry_in_khepri(
+      fun() ->
+              try
+                  Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_durable(true),
+                  ets:match_object(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Pattern)
+              catch
+                  error:badarg ->
+                      []
+              end
+      end).
 
 -spec get_all_durable_by_type(Type) -> [Queue] when
       Type :: atom(),
@@ -213,12 +213,12 @@ get_all_durable_by_type_in_mnesia(Type) ->
     rabbit_db:list_in_mnesia(?MNESIA_DURABLE_TABLE, Pattern).
 
 get_all_durable_by_type_in_khepri(Type) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_type_and_durable(Type, true),
-            ets:match_object(Table, Pattern)
+    try
+        Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_type_and_durable(Type, true),
+        ets:match_object(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Pattern)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -250,18 +250,18 @@ filter_all_durable_in_mnesia(FilterFun) ->
       end).
 
 filter_all_durable_in_khepri(FilterFun) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            ets:foldl(
-              fun(Q, Acc0) ->
-                      case amqqueue:is_durable(Q) andalso FilterFun(Q) of
-                          true -> [Q | Acc0];
-                          false -> Acc0
-                      end
-              end,
-              [], Table)
+    try
+        ets:foldl(
+          fun(Q, Acc0) ->
+                  case amqqueue:is_durable(Q) andalso FilterFun(Q) of
+                      true -> [Q | Acc0];
+                      false -> Acc0
+                  end
+          end,
+          [], ?KHEPRI_PROJECTION)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -287,12 +287,12 @@ list_in_mnesia() ->
     mnesia:dirty_all_keys(?MNESIA_TABLE).
 
 list_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_name('$1'),
-            ets:select(Table, [{Pattern, [], ['$1']}])
+    try
+        Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_name('$1'),
+        ets:select(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, [{Pattern, [], ['$1']}])
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -318,11 +318,12 @@ count_in_mnesia() ->
     mnesia:table_info(?MNESIA_TABLE, size).
 
 count_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
+    case ets:info(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, size) of
         undefined ->
+            %% `ets:info/2` on a table that does not exist returns `undefined`.
             0;
-        Table ->
-            ets:info(Table, size)
+        Size ->
+            Size
     end.
 
 -spec count(VHostName) -> Count when
@@ -361,12 +362,12 @@ list_for_count_in_mnesia(VHostName) ->
       end).
 
 list_for_count_in_khepri(VHostName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            0;
-        Table ->
-            Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_name(rabbit_misc:r(VHostName, queue)),
-            ets:select_count(Table, [{Pattern, [], [true]}])
+    try
+        Pattern = amqqueue:pattern_match_on_name(rabbit_misc:r(VHostName, queue)),
+        ets:select_count(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, [{Pattern, [], [true]}])
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            0
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -466,11 +467,11 @@ get_many(Names) when is_list(Names) ->
        }).
 
 get_many_in_khepri(Names) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            get_many_in_ets(Table, Names)
+    try
+        get_many_in_ets(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Names)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 get_many_in_ets(Table, [{Name, RouteInfos}])
@@ -512,14 +513,12 @@ get_in_mnesia(Name) ->
     rabbit_mnesia:dirty_read({?MNESIA_TABLE, Name}).
 
 get_in_khepri(Name) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            {error, not_found};
-        Table ->
-            case ets:lookup(Table, Name) of
-                [Q] -> {ok, Q};
-                []  -> {error, not_found}
-            end
+    try ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Name) of
+        [Q] -> {ok, Q};
+        []  -> {error, not_found}
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            {error, not_found}
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -568,12 +567,12 @@ get_many_durable_in_mnesia(Names) ->
     get_many_in_ets(?MNESIA_DURABLE_TABLE, Names).
 
 get_many_durable_in_khepri(Names) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            Queues = get_many_in_ets(Table, Names),
-            [Q || Q <- Queues, amqqueue:is_durable(Q)]
+    try
+        Queues = get_many_in_ets(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Names),
+        [Q || Q <- Queues, amqqueue:is_durable(Q)]
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -783,11 +782,11 @@ exists_in_mnesia(QName) ->
     ets:member(?MNESIA_TABLE, QName).
 
 exists_in_khepri(QName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            false;
-        Table ->
-            ets:member(Table, QName)
+    try
+        ets:member(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, QName)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            false
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_rtparams.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_rtparams.erl
index 1e0682421f6a..0f07bf82b483 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_rtparams.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_rtparams.erl
@@ -151,14 +151,12 @@ get_in_mnesia(Key) ->
     end.
 
 get_in_khepri(Key) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            undefined;
-        Table ->
-            case ets:lookup(Table, Key) of
-                []       -> undefined;
-                [Record] -> Record
-            end
+    try ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Key) of
+        []       -> undefined;
+        [Record] -> Record
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            undefined
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -182,11 +180,11 @@ get_all_in_mnesia() ->
     rabbit_mnesia:dirty_read_all(?MNESIA_TABLE).
 
 get_all_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            ets:tab2list(Table)
+    try
+        ets:tab2list(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 -spec get_all(VHostName, Comp) -> Ret when
@@ -224,13 +222,13 @@ get_all_in_khepri(VHostName, Comp) ->
         '_' -> ok;
         _   -> rabbit_vhost:assert(VHostName)
     end,
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            Match = #runtime_parameters{key = {VHostName, Comp, '_'},
-                                        _   = '_'},
-            ets:match_object(Table, Match)
+    try
+        Match = #runtime_parameters{key = {VHostName, Comp, '_'},
+                                    _   = '_'},
+        ets:match_object(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, Match)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_topic_exchange.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_topic_exchange.erl
index 640530bb3e5b..6d9affd55598 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_topic_exchange.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_topic_exchange.erl
@@ -492,54 +492,57 @@ ensure_topic_deletion_ets() ->
 %% Khepri topic graph
 
 trie_match_in_khepri(X, Words, BKeys) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            trie_match_in_khepri(Table, X, root, Words, BKeys, [])
+    try
+        trie_match_in_khepri(X, root, Words, BKeys, [])
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
-trie_match_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, [], BKeys, ResAcc0) ->
-    Destinations = trie_bindings_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, BKeys),
+trie_match_in_khepri(X, Node, [], BKeys, ResAcc0) ->
+    Destinations = trie_bindings_in_khepri(X, Node, BKeys),
     ResAcc = add_matched(Destinations, BKeys, ResAcc0),
     trie_match_part_in_khepri(
-      Table, X, Node, <<"#">>,
-      fun trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri/6, [], BKeys, ResAcc);
-trie_match_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, [W | RestW] = Words, BKeys, ResAcc) ->
+      X, Node, <<"#">>,
+      fun trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri/5, [], BKeys, ResAcc);
+trie_match_in_khepri(X, Node, [W | RestW] = Words, BKeys, ResAcc) ->
     lists:foldl(fun ({WArg, MatchFun, RestWArg}, Acc) ->
                         trie_match_part_in_khepri(
-                          Table, X, Node, WArg, MatchFun, RestWArg, BKeys, Acc)
-                end, ResAcc, [{W, fun trie_match_in_khepri/6, RestW},
-                              {<<"*">>, fun trie_match_in_khepri/6, RestW},
+                          X, Node, WArg, MatchFun, RestWArg, BKeys, Acc)
+                end, ResAcc, [{W, fun trie_match_in_khepri/5, RestW},
+                              {<<"*">>, fun trie_match_in_khepri/5, RestW},
                               {<<"#">>,
-                               fun trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri/6, Words}]).
+                               fun trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri/5, Words}]).
 
-trie_match_part_in_khepri(
-  Table, X, Node, Search, MatchFun, RestW, BKeys, ResAcc) ->
-    case trie_child_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, Search) of
-        {ok, NextNode} -> MatchFun(Table, X, NextNode, RestW, BKeys, ResAcc);
+trie_match_part_in_khepri(X, Node, Search, MatchFun, RestW, BKeys, ResAcc) ->
+    case trie_child_in_khepri(X, Node, Search) of
+        {ok, NextNode} -> MatchFun(X, NextNode, RestW, BKeys, ResAcc);
         error          -> ResAcc
     end.
 
-trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, [], BKeys, ResAcc) ->
-    trie_match_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, [], BKeys, ResAcc);
-trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, [_ | RestW] = Words, BKeys, ResAcc) ->
+trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri(X, Node, [], BKeys, ResAcc) ->
+    trie_match_in_khepri(X, Node, [], BKeys, ResAcc);
+trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri(X, Node, [_ | RestW] = Words, BKeys, ResAcc) ->
     trie_match_skip_any_in_khepri(
-      Table, X, Node, RestW, BKeys,
-      trie_match_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, Words, BKeys, ResAcc)).
-
-trie_child_in_khepri(Table, X, Node, Word) ->
-    case ets:lookup(Table, #trie_edge{exchange_name = X,
-                                      node_id       = Node,
-                                      word          = Word}) of
+      X, Node, RestW, BKeys,
+      trie_match_in_khepri(X, Node, Words, BKeys, ResAcc)).
+
+trie_child_in_khepri(X, Node, Word) ->
+    case ets:lookup(
+           ?KHEPRI_PROJECTION,
+           #trie_edge{exchange_name = X,
+                      node_id       = Node,
+                      word          = Word}) of
         [#topic_trie_edge{node_id = NextNode}] -> {ok, NextNode};
         []                                     -> error
     end.
 
-trie_bindings_in_khepri(Table,X, Node, BKeys) ->
-    case ets:lookup(Table, #trie_edge{exchange_name = X,
-                                      node_id       = Node,
-                                      word          = bindings}) of
+trie_bindings_in_khepri(X, Node, BKeys) ->
+    case ets:lookup(
+           ?KHEPRI_PROJECTION,
+           #trie_edge{exchange_name = X,
+                      node_id       = Node,
+                      word          = bindings}) of
         [#topic_trie_edge{node_id = {bindings, Bindings}}] ->
             [case BKeys of
                  true ->
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_user.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_user.erl
index 73c0828e7184..fb00b01a5daa 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_user.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_user.erl
@@ -187,14 +187,12 @@ get_in_mnesia(Username) ->
     end.
 
 get_in_khepri(Username) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_USERS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            undefined;
-        Table ->
-            case ets:lookup(Table, Username) of
-                [User] -> User;
-                _      -> undefined
-            end
+    try ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_USERS_PROJECTION, Username) of
+        [User] -> User;
+        _      -> undefined
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            undefined
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -297,18 +295,16 @@ get_user_permissions_in_mnesia(Username, VHostName) ->
     end.
 
 get_user_permissions_in_khepri(Username, VHostName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PERMISSIONS_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            undefined;
-        Table ->
-            UserVHost = #user_vhost{username     = Username,
-                                    virtual_host = VHostName},
-            case ets:lookup(Table, UserVHost) of
-                [UserPermission] ->
-                    UserPermission;
-                _ ->
-                    undefined
-            end
+    UserVHost = #user_vhost{username     = Username,
+                            virtual_host = VHostName},
+    try ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_PERMISSIONS_PROJECTION, UserVHost) of
+        [UserPermission] ->
+            UserPermission;
+        _ ->
+            undefined
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            undefined
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_vhost.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_vhost.erl
index 62441b76e0ab..faf7643e527b 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_vhost.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_vhost.erl
@@ -242,11 +242,11 @@ exists_in_mnesia(VHostName) ->
     mnesia:dirty_read({?MNESIA_TABLE, VHostName}) /= [].
 
 exists_in_khepri(VHostName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            false;
-        Table ->
-            ets:member(Table, VHostName)
+    try
+        ets:member(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, VHostName)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            false
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -275,14 +275,12 @@ get_in_mnesia(VHostName) ->
     end.
 
 get_in_khepri(VHostName) ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            undefined;
-        Table ->
-            case ets:lookup(Table, VHostName) of
-                [Record] -> Record;
-                _        -> undefined
-            end
+    try ets:lookup(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, VHostName) of
+        [Record] -> Record;
+        _        -> undefined
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            undefined
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -306,11 +304,11 @@ get_all_in_mnesia() ->
     mnesia:dirty_match_object(?MNESIA_TABLE, vhost:pattern_match_all()).
 
 get_all_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            ets:tab2list(Table)
+    try
+        ets:tab2list(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION)
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -334,11 +332,12 @@ list_in_mnesia() ->
     mnesia:dirty_all_keys(?MNESIA_TABLE).
 
 list_in_khepri() ->
-    case ets:whereis(?KHEPRI_PROJECTION) of
-        undefined ->
-            [];
-        Table ->
-            ets:select(Table, [{vhost:pattern_match_names(), [], ['$1']}])
+    try
+        ets:select(
+          ?KHEPRI_PROJECTION, [{vhost:pattern_match_names(), [], ['$1']}])
+    catch
+        error:badarg ->
+            []
     end.
 
 %% -------------------------------------------------------------------