diff --git a/services/backup/src/error.rs b/services/backup/src/error.rs
--- a/services/backup/src/error.rs
+++ b/services/backup/src/error.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use actix_web::{
   error::{
     ErrorBadRequest, ErrorConflict, ErrorInternalServerError, ErrorNotFound,
-    ErrorServiceUnavailable, HttpError,
+    ErrorServiceUnavailable,
   },
   HttpResponse, ResponseError,
 };
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
   AuthError(AuthServiceError),
   DB(comm_lib::database::Error),
   IdentityClientError(IdentityClientError),
-  BadRequest,
+  #[error(ignore)]
+  BadRequest(&'static str),
   NoUserData,
 }
 
@@ -86,19 +87,13 @@
         warn!("Transient identity error occurred: {err}");
         ErrorServiceUnavailable("please retry")
       }
-      BackupError::NoUserID => ErrorBadRequest("bad request"),
-      BackupError::BadRequest => ErrorBadRequest("bad request"),
+      BackupError::NoUserID => ErrorBadRequest("no_user_id"),
+      BackupError::BadRequest(reason) => ErrorBadRequest(*reason),
       BackupError::NoUserData => ErrorNotFound("not found"),
     }
   }
 }
 
-impl From<BackupError> for HttpError {
-  fn from(value: BackupError) -> Self {
-    value.into()
-  }
-}
-
 impl ResponseError for BackupError {
   fn error_response(&self) -> HttpResponse {
     actix_web::Error::from(self).error_response()
diff --git a/services/backup/src/http/handlers/backup.rs b/services/backup/src/http/handlers/backup.rs
--- a/services/backup/src/http/handlers/backup.rs
+++ b/services/backup/src/http/handlers/backup.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
   let siwe_backup_msg = aux_data.get_siwe_backup_msg()?;
   let version_info = aux_data
     .get_backup_version_info()?
-    .ok_or(BackupError::BadRequest)?;
+    .ok_or(BackupError::BadRequest("missing_version_info"))?;
 
   let item = BackupItem::new(
     user.user_id.clone(),
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
   let aux_data = multipart.get_aux_data().await?;
   let version_info = aux_data
     .get_backup_version_info()?
-    .ok_or(BackupError::BadRequest)?;
+    .ok_or(BackupError::BadRequest("missing_version_info"))?;
 
   let existing_backup_item = db_client
     .find_backup_item(&user.user_id, &backup_id)
@@ -508,14 +508,14 @@
 
     let Some(mut field) = multipart.try_next().await? else {
       warn!("Malformed request: expected a field.");
-      return Err(ErrorBadRequest("Bad request"))?;
+      return Err(ErrorBadRequest("multipart_field_expected"))?;
     };
     if field.name() != data_field_name {
       warn!(
         hash_field_name,
         "Malformed request: '{data_field_name}' data field expected."
       );
-      return Err(ErrorBadRequest("Bad request"))?;
+      return Err(ErrorBadRequest("missing_data_field"))?;
     }
 
     let blob_info = BlobInfo {
@@ -577,13 +577,13 @@
             name,
             "Malformed request: 'attachments' text field expected."
           );
-          return Err(BackupError::BadRequest);
+          return Err(BackupError::BadRequest("attachments_field_expected"));
         }
 
         attachments.lines().map(ToString::to_string).collect()
       }
       Ok(None) => Vec::new(),
-      Err(_) => return Err(BackupError::BadRequest),
+      Err(_) => return Err(BackupError::BadRequest("multipart_error")),
     };
 
     blob_utils::create_holders_for_blob_hashes(attachments_hashes, blob_client)