diff --git a/guardrails/api_client.py b/guardrails/api_client.py
index dc710c383..7b825d537 100644
--- a/guardrails/api_client.py
+++ b/guardrails/api_client.py
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
     ValidationOutcome as IValidationOutcome,
 )
 
+from guardrails_api_client.exceptions import BadRequestException
+from guardrails.errors import ValidationError
+
 from guardrails.logger import logger
 
 
@@ -58,16 +61,19 @@ def validate(
         payload: ValidatePayload,
         openai_api_key: Optional[str] = None,
     ):
-        _openai_api_key = (
-            openai_api_key
-            if openai_api_key is not None
-            else os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
-        )
-        return self._validate_api.validate(
-            guard_name=guard.name,
-            validate_payload=payload,
-            x_openai_api_key=_openai_api_key,
-        )
+        try:
+            _openai_api_key = (
+                openai_api_key
+                if openai_api_key is not None
+                else os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY")
+            )
+            return self._validate_api.validate(
+                guard_name=guard.name,
+                validate_payload=payload,
+                x_openai_api_key=_openai_api_key,
+            )
+        except BadRequestException as e:
+            raise ValidationError(f"{e.body}")
 
     def stream_validate(
         self,
diff --git a/guardrails/guard.py b/guardrails/guard.py
index 62dd91e79..50147bdd4 100644
--- a/guardrails/guard.py
+++ b/guardrails/guard.py
@@ -91,10 +91,9 @@
     json_function_calling_tool as json_function_calling_tool_util,
     output_format_json_schema as output_format_json_schema,
 )
-from guardrails.decorators.experimental import experimental
 
 from guardrails.settings import settings
-from guardrails.errors import ValidationError
+from guardrails.decorators.experimental import experimental
 
 
 class Guard(IGuard, Generic[OT]):
@@ -1175,16 +1174,11 @@ def upsert_guard(self):
 
     def _single_server_call(self, *, payload: Dict[str, Any]) -> ValidationOutcome[OT]:
         if settings.use_server and self._api_client:
-            try:
-                validation_output: IValidationOutcome = self._api_client.validate(
-                    guard=self,  # type: ignore
-                    payload=ValidatePayload.from_dict(payload),  # type: ignore
-                    openai_api_key=get_call_kwarg("api_key"),
-                )
-            except Exception as e:
-                if e.status and e.status == 400:
-                    raise ValidationError(f"{e.body}")
-                raise e
+            validation_output: IValidationOutcome = self._api_client.validate(
+                guard=self,  # type: ignore
+                payload=ValidatePayload.from_dict(payload),  # type: ignore
+                openai_api_key=get_call_kwarg("api_key"),
+            )
             if not validation_output:
                 return ValidationOutcome[OT](
                     call_id="0",  # type: ignore