diff --git a/terraso_backend/apps/graphql/schema/story_maps.py b/terraso_backend/apps/graphql/schema/story_maps.py
index a1a0cc4bd..327f9fc7e 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/apps/graphql/schema/story_maps.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/apps/graphql/schema/story_maps.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
 
+from datetime import datetime
+
 import django_filters
 import graphene
 import rules
@@ -345,11 +347,20 @@ def mutate_and_get_payload(cls, root, info, **kwargs):
                 "Attempt to approve a Membership, but user has no permission",
                 extra=kwargs,
             )
-            raise GraphQLNotAllowedException(
+            error = GraphQLNotAllowedException(
                 model_name=Membership.__name__,
                 operation=MutationTypes.UPDATE,
                 message="permissions_validation",
             )
+            return cls(
+                errors=[{"message": str(error)}],
+                story_map=StoryMap(
+                    id="",
+                    title=story_map.title,
+                    created_at=datetime.now(),
+                    updated_at=datetime.now(),
+                ),
+            )
 
         try:
             membership.membership_list.approve_membership(
diff --git a/terraso_backend/apps/story_map/permission_rules.py b/terraso_backend/apps/story_map/permission_rules.py
index c337950ed..28eb2aa71 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/apps/story_map/permission_rules.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/apps/story_map/permission_rules.py
@@ -79,8 +79,9 @@ def allowed_to_approve_story_map_membership(user, obj):
 @rules.predicate
 def allowed_to_approve_story_map_membership_with_token(user, obj):
     membership = obj.get("membership")
-    request_user = user
-    return request_user.id == membership.user.id
+    if not membership.user:
+        return False
+    return user.id == membership.user.id
 
 
 @rules.predicate
diff --git a/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_story_map_mutations.py b/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_story_map_mutations.py
index 9c3cf38ba..d3446ebe5 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_story_map_mutations.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_story_map_mutations.py
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ def test_story_map_approve_membership_with_token_for_unregistered_user(
 
 
 def test_story_map_approve_membership_with_token_for_registered_user_fails_due_user_mismatch(
-    client_query, story_map_user_memberships_approve_tokens
+    client_query, story_map_user_memberships_approve_tokens, story_maps
 ):
     token = story_map_user_memberships_approve_tokens[1]
 
@@ -469,6 +469,12 @@ def test_story_map_approve_membership_with_token_for_registered_user_fails_due_u
           $input: StoryMapMembershipApproveTokenMutationInput!
         ){
           approveStoryMapMembershipToken(input: $input) {
+            storyMap {
+              title
+              id
+              createdAt
+              updatedAt
+            }
             membership {
               id
               membershipStatus
@@ -485,7 +491,14 @@ def test_story_map_approve_membership_with_token_for_registered_user_fails_due_u
     )
     json_response = response.json()
 
+    print(json_response)
+
     assert "errors" in json_response["data"]["approveStoryMapMembershipToken"]
     error_result = json_response["data"]["approveStoryMapMembershipToken"]["errors"][0]["message"]
     json_error = json.loads(error_result)
     assert json_error[0]["code"] == "update_not_allowed"
+    assert (
+        json_response["data"]["approveStoryMapMembershipToken"]["storyMap"]["title"]
+        == story_maps[0].title
+    )
+    assert json_response["data"]["approveStoryMapMembershipToken"]["storyMap"]["id"] == ""