diff --git a/backend/app/api/deps.py b/backend/app/api/deps.py
index 5f28ec692a..3efddf10e1 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/deps.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/deps.py
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@ def get_current_user(session: SessionDep, token: TokenDep) -> User:
         )
     user = session.get(User, token_data.sub)
     if not user:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="User not found")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED,
+            detail="Could not validate credentials",
+        )
     if not user.is_active:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Inactive user")
     return user
diff --git a/backend/tests/api/routes/test_login.py b/backend/tests/api/routes/test_login.py
index 96677a25f6..a800c6de0c 100644
--- a/backend/tests/api/routes/test_login.py
+++ b/backend/tests/api/routes/test_login.py
@@ -46,6 +46,25 @@ def test_use_access_token(
     assert "email" in result
 
 
+def test_use_access_token_of_deleted_user(client: TestClient, db: Session) -> None:
+    email = random_email()
+    password = random_lower_string()
+    user_create = UserCreate(email=email, password=password, is_active=True)
+    user = create_user(session=db, user_create=user_create)
+    headers = user_authentication_headers(client=client, email=email, password=password)
+
+    db.delete(user)
+    db.commit()
+
+    r = client.post(
+        f"{settings.API_V1_STR}/login/test-token",
+        headers=headers,
+    )
+
+    assert r.status_code == 401
+    assert r.json() == {"detail": "Could not validate credentials"}
+
+
 def test_recovery_password(
     client: TestClient, normal_user_token_headers: dict[str, str]
 ) -> None: