diff --git a/api/webhook/post.go b/api/webhook/post.go
index 89b7907ac..e8ce98ddd 100644
--- a/api/webhook/post.go
+++ b/api/webhook/post.go
@@ -552,6 +552,8 @@ func PostWebhook(c *gin.Context) {
 
 // handleRepositoryEvent is a helper function that processes repository events from the SCM and updates
 // the database resources with any relevant changes resulting from the event, such as name changes, transfers, etc.
+//
+// the caller is responsible for returning errors to the client.
 func handleRepositoryEvent(ctx context.Context, c *gin.Context, m *internal.Metadata, h *library.Hook, r *types.Repo) (*types.Repo, error) {
 	l := c.MustGet("logger").(*logrus.Entry)
 
@@ -664,6 +666,8 @@ func handleRepositoryEvent(ctx context.Context, c *gin.Context, m *internal.Meta
 // queries the database for the repo that matches that name and org, and updates
 // that repo to its new name in order to preserve it. It also updates the secrets
 // associated with that repo as well as build links for the UI.
+//
+// the caller is responsible for returning errors to the client.
 func RenameRepository(ctx context.Context, h *library.Hook, r *types.Repo, c *gin.Context, m *internal.Metadata) (*types.Repo, error) {
 	l := c.MustGet("logger").(*logrus.Entry)
 
@@ -692,7 +696,6 @@ func RenameRepository(ctx context.Context, h *library.Hook, r *types.Repo, c *gi
 	lastHook, err := database.FromContext(c).LastHookForRepo(ctx, dbR)
 	if err != nil {
 		retErr := fmt.Errorf("unable to get last hook for repo %s: %w", r.GetFullName(), err)
-		util.HandleError(c, http.StatusInternalServerError, retErr)
 
 		h.SetStatus(constants.StatusFailure)
 		h.SetError(retErr.Error())
@@ -796,7 +799,6 @@ func RenameRepository(ctx context.Context, h *library.Hook, r *types.Repo, c *gi
 	dbR, err = database.FromContext(c).UpdateRepo(ctx, dbR)
 	if err != nil {
 		retErr := fmt.Errorf("%s: failed to update repo %s/%s", baseErr, dbR.GetOrg(), dbR.GetName())
-		util.HandleError(c, http.StatusBadRequest, retErr)
 
 		h.SetStatus(constants.StatusFailure)
 		h.SetError(retErr.Error())