diff --git a/backplane-server.lisp b/backplane-server.lisp
index 39a9cb7..39ad981 100644
--- a/backplane-server.lisp
+++ b/backplane-server.lisp
@@ -103,11 +103,17 @@
     (format *standard-output* "message received from ~A" sender)
     (xmpp:message conn
                   (xmpp:from message)
-                  (render-result (success-> message
-                                            (xmpp:body)
-                                            (decode-message)
-                                            (dispatch-parse-message sender)
-                                            (handle-message))))))
+                  (render-result
+                   (handler-case
+                       (success-> message
+                                  (xmpp:body)
+                                  (decode-message)
+                                  (dispatch-parse-message sender)
+                                  (handle-message))
+                     (error (e)
+                       (format *error-output* "failed handling message from ~A: ~A"
+                               sender e)
+                       (make-error :msg "an unknown error occurred handling request")))))))
 
 (let ((backplane nil))
   (defun backplane-connect (xmpp-host xmpp-username xmpp-password)