diff --git a/backend/api/teams/resources.py b/backend/api/teams/resources.py
index 3f5c13b848..06df030d27 100644
--- a/backend/api/teams/resources.py
+++ b/backend/api/teams/resources.py
@@ -181,8 +181,7 @@ def delete(self, team_id):
                 "SubCode": "UserNotTeamManager",
             }, 401
 
-        TeamService.delete_team(team_id)
-        return {"Success": "Team deleted"}, 200
+        return TeamService.delete_team(team_id)
 
 
 class TeamsAllAPI(Resource):
diff --git a/backend/services/team_service.py b/backend/services/team_service.py
index 292360e3b8..508582c63f 100644
--- a/backend/services/team_service.py
+++ b/backend/services/team_service.py
@@ -566,8 +566,12 @@ def delete_team(team_id: int):
 
         if team.can_be_deleted():
             team.delete()
+            return {"Success": "Team deleted"}, 200
         else:
-            raise TeamServiceError("Team has projects, cannot be deleted")
+            return {
+                "Error": "Team has projects, cannot be deleted",
+                "SubCode": "This team has projects associated. Before deleting a team, unlink any associated projects."
+            }, 400
 
     @staticmethod
     def check_team_membership(project_id: int, allowed_roles: list, user_id: int):