diff --git a/backend/middleware/exception.py b/backend/middleware/exception.py
index f5ea1a6f7c..ce6b1abadf 100644
--- a/backend/middleware/exception.py
+++ b/backend/middleware/exception.py
@@ -47,12 +47,37 @@ def drf_logging_exc_handler(exc: Exception, context: Any) -> Response | None:
         return response
 
     response: Response | None = exception_handler(exc=exc, context=context)
+    _enrich_not_found_detail(response=response, context=context)
     ExceptionLoggingMiddleware.format_exc_and_log(
         request=request, response=response, exception=exc
     )
     return response
 
 
+def _enrich_not_found_detail(response: Response | None, context: Any) -> None:
+    """Replace DRF's generic "Not found." with the resource's name.
+
+    Derives a human label from the view's `queryset` model so every 404
+    reads "<Resource> not found." app-wide, no per-view work. Uses the
+    static `queryset` attr (not `get_queryset()`) to avoid running view
+    logic during error handling; views without it keep the generic message.
+    Override `Meta.verbose_name` to tune a model's label.
+    """
+    if response is None or getattr(response, "status_code", None) != 404:
+        return
+    data = getattr(response, "data", None)
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        return
+    model = getattr(getattr(context.get("view"), "queryset", None), "model", None)
+    if model is None:
+        return
+    label = str(model._meta.verbose_name).capitalize()
+    for err in data.get("errors", []):
+        # Guard: a raise here would mask the original error with a 500.
+        if isinstance(err, dict) and err.get("code") == "not_found":
+            err["detail"] = f"{label} not found."
+
+
 class ExceptionLoggingMiddleware:
     """Custom middleware to log unhandled errors.
 
diff --git a/backend/middleware/test_exception.py b/backend/middleware/test_exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..217a3aaa36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/middleware/test_exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+"""Unit checks for the 404 detail enrichment in the DRF exception handler.
+
+Pure-logic; uses fakes so no DB or real models are needed. Importing the
+handler pulls DRF, which reads settings at import — configure a minimal
+settings object when the suite hasn't already, so this runs standalone too.
+"""
+
+import django
+from django.conf import settings
+
+if not settings.configured:
+    settings.configure(INSTALLED_APPS=[], DATABASES={})
+    django.setup()
+
+from middleware.exception import _enrich_not_found_detail  # noqa: E402
+
+
+class _Meta:
+    verbose_name = "lookup definition"
+
+
+class _Model:
+    _meta = _Meta
+
+
+class _QuerySet:
+    model = _Model
+
+
+class _View:
+    queryset = _QuerySet
+
+
+class _Resp:
+    def __init__(self, status_code, data):
+        self.status_code = status_code
+        self.data = data
+
+
+def test_404_with_model_uses_verbose_name():
+    resp = _Resp(404, {"errors": [{"code": "not_found", "detail": "Not found."}]})
+    _enrich_not_found_detail(resp, {"view": _View()})
+    assert resp.data["errors"][0]["detail"] == "Lookup definition not found."
+
+
+def test_404_without_queryset_keeps_generic():
+    resp = _Resp(404, {"errors": [{"code": "not_found", "detail": "Not found."}]})
+    _enrich_not_found_detail(resp, {"view": object()})
+    assert resp.data["errors"][0]["detail"] == "Not found."
+
+
+def test_non_404_untouched():
+    resp = _Resp(400, {"errors": [{"code": "not_found", "detail": "Not found."}]})
+    _enrich_not_found_detail(resp, {"view": _View()})
+    assert resp.data["errors"][0]["detail"] == "Not found."
+
+
+def test_none_response_is_safe():
+    _enrich_not_found_detail(None, {})
+
+
+def test_non_dict_error_item_does_not_raise():
+    resp = _Resp(
+        404, {"errors": ["unexpected", {"code": "not_found", "detail": "Not found."}]}
+    )
+    _enrich_not_found_detail(resp, {"view": _View()})
+    assert resp.data["errors"][1]["detail"] == "Lookup definition not found."
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useExceptionHandler.jsx b/frontend/src/hooks/useExceptionHandler.jsx
index 62917a8f0a..eef7dbfc7b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useExceptionHandler.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useExceptionHandler.jsx
@@ -48,6 +48,18 @@ const useExceptionHandler = () => {
           // Handle validation errors
           if (setBackendErrors) {
             setBackendErrors(err?.response?.data);
+            // Non-field errors map to no input and would vanish silently;
+            // surface them as a toast. Field-bound errors render inline.
+            const nonFieldErrors = (Array.isArray(errors) ? errors : []).filter(
+              (error) => !error?.attr || error.attr === "non_field_errors",
+            );
+            if (nonFieldErrors.length > 0) {
+              return alert(
+                nonFieldErrors
+                  .map((error) => error?.detail || errMessage)
+                  .join(" • "),
+              );
+            }
           } else {
             // Handle both single error and array of errors
             let errorMessage = "Validation error";