diff --git a/app/api/leantime/status-labels/route.ts b/app/api/leantime/status-labels/route.ts
index bfdfc006..4e2a2a39 100644
--- a/app/api/leantime/status-labels/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/leantime/status-labels/route.ts
@@ -65,15 +65,28 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
   try {
     const session = await getServerSession(authOptions);
 
-    if (!session || !session.user?.email) {
-      return NextResponse.json({ error: "Unauthorized" }, { status: 401 });
+    if (!session) {
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: "Unauthorized", message: "No session found. Please sign in." },
+        { status: 401 }
+      );
+    }
+
+    if (!session.user?.email) {
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: "Unauthorized", message: "No email found in session. Please sign in again." },
+        { status: 401 }
+      );
     }
 
     // Get Leantime user ID
     const leantimeUserId = await getLeantimeUserId(session.user.email);
     
     if (!leantimeUserId) {
-      return NextResponse.json({ error: "User not found in Leantime" }, { status: 404 });
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        { error: "User not found", message: "Could not find user in Leantime. Please check your email." },
+        { status: 404 }
+      );
     }
 
     // Get all tasks assigned to the user
@@ -184,7 +197,7 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Error fetching status labels:', error);
     return NextResponse.json(
-      { error: "Failed to fetch status labels" },
+      { error: "Failed to fetch status labels", message: error instanceof Error ? error.message : "Unknown error occurred" },
       { status: 500 }
     );
   }