diff --git a/server/src/index.js b/server/src/index.js
index 0004af7..67c102f 100644
--- a/server/src/index.js
+++ b/server/src/index.js
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ async function main() {
     await setupTest()
   }
 
-  await loadAndUpdateQuests()
+  try {
+    await loadAndUpdateQuests()
+  } catch (err) {
+    logger.error('Failed to load quests', err)
+    return
+  }
   expiryRemovalScheduler()
 
   const file = await fs.readFile('./swagger.yaml', 'utf8')
diff --git a/server/src/utils/quest.js b/server/src/utils/quest.js
index 056769e..900f51c 100644
--- a/server/src/utils/quest.js
+++ b/server/src/utils/quest.js
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@ import logger from './logger.js'
 
 const questDirectory = path.join(process.cwd(), '..', 'quests')
 
+class QuestValidationError extends Error {
+  constructor(message, questId, error) {
+    super(message)
+    this.name = 'QuestValidationError'
+    this.questId = questId
+    this.error = error
+  }
+}
+
 async function mapQuests(callback) {
   const questNames = await fs.readdir(questDirectory, {
     withFileTypes: true,
@@ -28,7 +37,7 @@ export async function loadAndUpdateQuests() {
   return mapQuests(async (id, questPath) => {
     const files = await fs.readdir(questPath)
     if (!files.includes('game.yml')) {
-      throw new Error(`Quest ${id} is missing game.yml`)
+      throw new QuestValidationError(`Missing game.yml`, id)
     }
 
     try {
@@ -46,8 +55,8 @@ export async function loadAndUpdateQuests() {
       })
       await quest.save()
     } catch (error) {
-      logger.error(`Error parsing quest ${id}:`, error)
-      throw error
+      logger.error(`Error parsing quest`, { id, error })
+      throw new QuestValidationError(`Error parsing quest`, id, error)
     }
   })
 }