diff --git a/InvenTree/build/api.py b/InvenTree/build/api.py
index 3973272944..cc897d6ec9 100644
--- a/InvenTree/build/api.py
+++ b/InvenTree/build/api.py
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ class BuildAllocate(generics.CreateAPIView):
         context = super().get_serializer_context()
 
         context['build'] = self.get_build()
+        context['request'] = self.request
 
         return context
 
diff --git a/InvenTree/build/serializers.py b/InvenTree/build/serializers.py
index 7dc8b7b9d0..53e71dbd27 100644
--- a/InvenTree/build/serializers.py
+++ b/InvenTree/build/serializers.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ JSON serializers for Build API
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.db import transaction
-
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError as DjangoValidationError
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
 from django.db.models import Case, When, Value
@@ -270,14 +270,18 @@ class BuildAllocationSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
                 quantity = item['quantity']
                 output = item.get('output', None)
 
-                # Create a new BuildItem to allocate stock
-                BuildItem.objects.create(
-                    build=build,
-                    bom_item=bom_item,
-                    stock_item=stock_item,
-                    quantity=quantity,
-                    install_into=output
-                )
+                try:
+                    # Create a new BuildItem to allocate stock
+                    BuildItem.objects.create(
+                        build=build,
+                        bom_item=bom_item,
+                        stock_item=stock_item,
+                        quantity=quantity,
+                        install_into=output
+                    )
+                except (ValidationError, DjangoValidationError) as exc:
+                    # Catch model errors and re-throw as DRF errors
+                    raise ValidationError(detail=serializers.as_serializer_error(exc))
 
 
 class BuildItemSerializer(InvenTreeModelSerializer):
diff --git a/InvenTree/build/test_api.py b/InvenTree/build/test_api.py
index 4b5b04fca9..017f0126c5 100644
--- a/InvenTree/build/test_api.py
+++ b/InvenTree/build/test_api.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class BuildAllocationTest(BuildAPITest):
             expected_code=400
         ).data
 
-        self.assertIn('Allocation items must be provided', str(data['items']))
+        self.assertIn('Allocation items must be provided', str(data))
 
         # No new BuildItem objects have been created during this test
         self.assertEqual(self.n, BuildItem.objects.count())
diff --git a/InvenTree/order/api.py b/InvenTree/order/api.py
index fc19610320..b8f54ba72b 100644
--- a/InvenTree/order/api.py
+++ b/InvenTree/order/api.py
@@ -7,14 +7,11 @@ 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
 
 
@@ -235,6 +232,7 @@ class POReceive(generics.CreateAPIView):
 
         # Pass the purchase order through to the serializer for validation
         context['order'] = self.get_order()
+        context['request'] = self.request
 
         return context
 
diff --git a/InvenTree/order/serializers.py b/InvenTree/order/serializers.py
index 9600e2acaf..742f759f82 100644
--- a/InvenTree/order/serializers.py
+++ b/InvenTree/order/serializers.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError as DjangoValidationError
 from django.db import models, transaction
 from django.db.models import Case, When, Value
 from django.db.models import BooleanField, ExpressionWrapper, F
@@ -305,6 +306,7 @@ class POReceiveSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
 
         data = self.validated_data
 
+        request = self.context['request']
         order = self.context['order']
 
         items = data['items']
@@ -331,15 +333,19 @@ class POReceiveSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
         # Now we can actually receive the items into stock
         with transaction.atomic():
             for item in items:
-                order.receive_line_item(
-                    item['line_item'],
-                    item['location'],
-                    item['quantity'],
-                    self.request.user,
-                    status=item['status'],
-                    barcode=item.get('barcode', ''),
-                )
 
+                try:
+                    order.receive_line_item(
+                        item['line_item'],
+                        item['location'],
+                        item['quantity'],
+                        request.user,
+                        status=item['status'],
+                        barcode=item.get('barcode', ''),
+                    )
+                except (ValidationError, DjangoValidationError) as exc:
+                    # Catch model errors and re-throw as DRF errors
+                    raise ValidationError(detail=serializers.as_serializer_error(exc))
 
     class Meta:
         fields = [