diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
index 7e78eb9693..a9a4e5fddf 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/bbReferenceProcessor.ts
@@ -20,9 +20,16 @@ export async function processInputBBReferences(
       }
 
       for (const id of result) {
-        const user = await cache.user.getUser(id)
-        if (!user) {
-          throw new InvalidBBRefError(id, FieldSubtype.USER)
+        try {
+          const user = await cache.user.getUser(id)
+          if (!user) {
+            throw new InvalidBBRefError(id, FieldSubtype.USER)
+          }
+        } catch (err: any) {
+          if (err != null && err.status === 404 && err.error === "not_found") {
+            throw new InvalidBBRefError(id, FieldSubtype.USER)
+          }
+          throw err
         }
       }
       break
diff --git a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
index efc9805ef3..748bc7efb6 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/utilities/rowProcessor/tests/bbReferenceProcessor.spec.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ describe("bbReferenceProcessor", () => {
       it("throws an error given an invalid id", async () => {
         const userId = generator.guid()
 
+        mockedCacheGetUser.mockRejectedValue({
+          status: 404,
+          error: "not_found",
+        })
+
         await expect(
           processInputBBReferences(userId, FieldSubtype.USER)
         ).rejects.toThrowError(new InvalidBBRefError(userId, FieldSubtype.USER))