diff --git a/packages/xrpc-server/src/types.ts b/packages/xrpc-server/src/types.ts
index 829f8a270d2..dc75627a95f 100644
--- a/packages/xrpc-server/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/xrpc-server/src/types.ts
@@ -201,7 +201,13 @@ export class XRPCError extends Error {
 }
 
 export function isHandlerError(v: unknown): v is HandlerError {
-  return handlerError.safeParse(v).success
+  return (
+    !!v &&
+    typeof v === 'object' &&
+    typeof v['status'] === 'number' &&
+    (v['error'] === undefined || typeof v['error'] === 'string') &&
+    (v['message'] === undefined || typeof v['message'] === 'string')
+  )
 }
 
 export class InvalidRequestError extends XRPCError {