diff --git a/broker/bridge-list.go b/broker/bridge-list.go
index 567e9e5..00fc3a9 100644
--- a/broker/bridge-list.go
+++ b/broker/bridge-list.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/anti-censorship/pluggable-transports/snowflake/v2/common/bridgefingerprint"
 )
 
-var ErrBridgeNotFound = errors.New("bridge not found")
+var ErrBridgeNotFound = errors.New("bridge with requested fingerprint is unknown to the broker")
 
 func NewBridgeListHolder() BridgeListHolderFileBased {
 	return &bridgeListHolder{}
diff --git a/broker/ipc.go b/broker/ipc.go
index 1752a9b..bde72b0 100644
--- a/broker/ipc.go
+++ b/broker/ipc.go
@@ -185,7 +185,10 @@ func (i *IPC) ClientOffers(arg messages.Arg, response *[]byte) error {
 	}
 
 	if _, err := i.ctx.GetBridgeInfo(BridgeFingerprint); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return sendClientResponse(
+			&messages.ClientPollResponse{Error: err.Error()},
+			response,
+		)
 	}
 
 	offer.fingerprint = BridgeFingerprint.ToBytes()