diff --git a/.env b/.env
index f36a8e69eb..31474bf0b6 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ _APP_SMTP_USERNAME=
 _APP_SMTP_PASSWORD=
 _APP_SMS_PROVIDER=sms://username:password@mock
 _APP_SMS_FROM=+123456789
-_APP_SMS_DENY_LIST=
+_APP_SMS_PROJECTS_DENY_LIST=
 _APP_STORAGE_LIMIT=30000000
 _APP_STORAGE_PREVIEW_LIMIT=20000000
 _APP_FUNCTIONS_SIZE_LIMIT=30000000
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b6f654bd6a..395923681d 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ services:
       - _APP_REDIS_PASS
       - _APP_SMS_PROVIDER
       - _APP_SMS_FROM
-      - _APP_SMS_DENY_LIST
+      - _APP_SMS_PROJECTS_DENY_LIST
       - _APP_LOGGING_PROVIDER
       - _APP_LOGGING_CONFIG
 
diff --git a/src/Appwrite/Platform/Workers/Messaging.php b/src/Appwrite/Platform/Workers/Messaging.php
index 340438217c..bd4d9afede 100644
--- a/src/Appwrite/Platform/Workers/Messaging.php
+++ b/src/Appwrite/Platform/Workers/Messaging.php
@@ -56,11 +56,12 @@ class Messaging extends Action
         $payload = $message->getPayload() ?? [];
 
         if (empty($payload['project'])) {
-            throw new Exception('Project not found', 500);
+            throw new Exception('Project not set in payload');
+            return;
         }
 
         Console::log($payload['project']['$id']);
-        $denyList = App::getEnv('_APP_SMS_DENY_LIST', '');
+        $denyList = App::getEnv('_APP_SMS_PROJECTS_DENY_LIST', '');
         $denyList = explode(',', $denyList);
         if (in_array($payload['project']['$id'], $denyList)) {
             Console::error("Project is in the deny list. Skipping ...");