diff --git a/InvenTree/order/api.py b/InvenTree/order/api.py
index d97da75b73..ab6c4d7c0b 100644
--- a/InvenTree/order/api.py
+++ b/InvenTree/order/api.py
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 from django.conf.urls import url, include
 from django.db import transaction
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError as DjangoValidationError
 
 from django_filters import rest_framework as rest_filters
 from rest_framework import generics
 from rest_framework import filters, status
 from rest_framework.response import Response
+from rest_framework import serializers
 from rest_framework.serializers import ValidationError
 
 
@@ -243,11 +245,12 @@ class POReceive(generics.CreateAPIView):
 
         pk = self.kwargs.get('pk', None)
 
-        if pk is None:
-            return None
-        else:
-            order = PurchaseOrder.objects.get(pk=self.kwargs['pk'])
-            return order
+        try:
+            order = PurchaseOrder.objects.get(pk=pk)
+        except (PurchaseOrder.DoesNotExist, ValueError):
+            raise ValidationError(_("Matching purchase order does not exist"))
+        
+        return order
 
     def create(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
 
@@ -259,9 +262,14 @@ class POReceive(generics.CreateAPIView):
         serializer.is_valid(raise_exception=True)
 
         # Receive the line items
-        self.receive_items(serializer)
+        try:
+            self.receive_items(serializer)
+        except DjangoValidationError as exc:
+            # Re-throw a django error as a DRF error
+            raise ValidationError(detail=serializers.as_serializer_error(exc))
 
         headers = self.get_success_headers(serializer.data)
+
         return Response(serializer.data, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED, headers=headers)
 
     @transaction.atomic
diff --git a/InvenTree/order/models.py b/InvenTree/order/models.py
index a069cf126f..061286367c 100644
--- a/InvenTree/order/models.py
+++ b/InvenTree/order/models.py
@@ -418,16 +418,24 @@ class PurchaseOrder(Order):
             barcode = ''
 
         if not self.status == PurchaseOrderStatus.PLACED:
-            raise ValidationError({"status": _("Lines can only be received against an order marked as 'Placed'")})
+            raise ValidationError({
+                "status": _("Lines can only be received against an order marked as 'Placed'")
+            })
 
         try:
             if not (quantity % 1 == 0):
-                raise ValidationError({"quantity": _("Quantity must be an integer")})
+                raise ValidationError({
+                    "quantity": _("Quantity must be an integer")
+                })
             if quantity < 0:
-                raise ValidationError({"quantity": _("Quantity must be a positive number")})
+                raise ValidationError({
+                    "quantity": _("Quantity must be a positive number")
+                })
             quantity = int(quantity)
         except (ValueError, TypeError):
-            raise ValidationError({"quantity": _("Invalid quantity provided")})
+            raise ValidationError({
+                "quantity": _("Invalid quantity provided")
+            })
 
         # Create a new stock item
         if line.part and quantity > 0: