diff --git a/backend/src/app/http/middleware.clj b/backend/src/app/http/middleware.clj
index 23e229652..40aee10d2 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/http/middleware.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/http/middleware.clj
@@ -78,13 +78,12 @@
               (raise cause)))]
 
     (fn [request respond raise]
-      (when-let [request (try
-                           (process-request request)
-                           (catch RuntimeException cause
-                             (handle-error raise (or (.getCause cause) cause)))
-                           (catch Throwable cause
-                             (handle-error raise cause)))]
-        (handler request respond raise)))))
+      (let [request (ex/try! (process-request request))]
+        (if (ex/exception? request)
+          (if (instance? RuntimeException request)
+            (handle-error raise (or (ex/cause request) request))
+            (handle-error raise request))
+          (handler request respond raise))))))
 
 (def parse-request
   {:name ::parse-request
diff --git a/backend/src/app/http/session.clj b/backend/src/app/http/session.clj
index bc409de18..5d136ac44 100644
--- a/backend/src/app/http/session.clj
+++ b/backend/src/app/http/session.clj
@@ -178,10 +178,15 @@
             (clear-authenticated-cookie))))))
 
 (def middleware-1
-  (letfn [(wrap-handler [manager handler request respond raise]
-            (when-let [cookie (some->> (cf/get :auth-token-cookie-name default-auth-token-cookie-name)
-                                       (yrq/get-cookie request))]
-              (->> (decode manager (:value cookie))
+  (letfn [(decode-cookie [manager cookie]
+            (if-let [value (:value cookie)]
+              (decode manager value)
+              (p/resolved nil)))
+
+          (wrap-handler [manager handler request respond raise]
+            (let [cookie (some->> (cf/get :auth-token-cookie-name default-auth-token-cookie-name)
+                                  (yrq/get-cookie request))]
+              (->> (decode-cookie manager cookie)
                    (p/fnly (fn [claims _]
                              (cond-> request
                                (some? claims) (assoc :session-token-claims claims)