diff --git a/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchService.java b/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchService.java
index cbfc254..7b312d8 100644
--- a/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchService.java
+++ b/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchService.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ public class BingSearchService implements SearchTaskService {
    * https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/bingmaps/getting-started/bing-maps-api-best-practices#reducing-usage-transactions
    */
   @Value("${nl.aerius.bing.apiKey:#{null}}") private String apiKey;
+  @Value("${nl.aerius.bing.maxRetries:3}") private int maxRetries;
 
   @Override
   public Single<SearchTaskResult> retrieveSearchResults(final String query) {
@@ -119,9 +121,26 @@ private void retrieveSuggestions(final String query, final Map<String, SearchSug
   }
 
   private JSONArray obtainResources(final String url) {
-    final HttpResponse<JsonNode> json = Unirest.get(url).asJson();
-    final JSONObject body = json.getBody().getObject();
-    return body.getJSONArray("resourceSets").getJSONObject(0).getJSONArray("resources");
+    JSONObject body = null;
+    int retry = 0;
+    while (retry++ < maxRetries) {
+      final HttpResponse<JsonNode> json = Unirest.get(url).asJson();
+      body = json.getBody().getObject();
+      final int statusCode = body.getInt("statusCode");
+      if (statusCode == 200) {
+        return body.getJSONArray("resourceSets").getJSONObject(0).getJSONArray("resources");
+      } else if (statusCode == 429) {
+        LOG.info("Got too many retries status code from Bing, attempt {}.", retry);
+        try {
+          TimeUnit.SECONDS.sleep(1);
+        } catch (final InterruptedException ie) {
+          Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
+        }
+      } else {
+        throw new BingServiceException("Unexpected status code: " + statusCode);
+      }
+    }
+    throw new BingServiceException("Retries failed, last returned: " + body);
   }
 
   private SuggestedLocation createSuggestedLocation(final JSONObject jsonObject) {
diff --git a/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingServiceException.java b/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingServiceException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1edb3fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingServiceException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright the State of the Netherlands
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
+ */
+package nl.aerius.search.tasks;
+
+public class BingServiceException extends RuntimeException {
+
+  public BingServiceException(final String message) {
+    super(message);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchServiceTest.java b/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchServiceTest.java
index f3af03d..da6f9b1 100644
--- a/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchServiceTest.java
+++ b/search-service-bing-geocoder/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/BingSearchServiceTest.java
@@ -45,5 +45,11 @@ void testWorksAtAll() {
     final SearchTaskResult suggestions = result.blockingGet();
 
     assertEquals(5, suggestions.getSuggestions().size(), "Expected number of results for 'edin' (should include 'edinburgh')");
+
+    final Single<SearchTaskResult> resultYork = delegator.retrieveSearchResults("york");
+
+    final SearchTaskResult suggestionsYork = resultYork.blockingGet();
+
+    assertEquals(4, suggestionsYork.getSuggestions().size(), "Expected number of results for 'edin' (should include 'edinburgh')");
   }
 }
diff --git a/search-service-mocks/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/MockRuntimeExceptionTask.java b/search-service-mocks/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/MockRuntimeExceptionTask.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6137af3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/search-service-mocks/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/MockRuntimeExceptionTask.java
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright the State of the Netherlands
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
+ */
+package nl.aerius.search.tasks;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;
+
+import io.reactivex.rxjava3.core.Single;
+
+import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchCapability;
+import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchTaskResult;
+
+@Component
+@ImplementsCapability(SearchCapability.MOCK_RUNTIME_EXCEPTION)
+public class MockRuntimeExceptionTask implements SearchTaskService {
+  private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(MockRuntimeExceptionTask.class);
+
+  @Override
+  public Single<SearchTaskResult> retrieveSearchResults(final String query) {
+    LOG.debug("Mocking runtim exception for query [{}]", query);
+    throw new NullPointerException("Some mocked nullpointer");
+  }
+}
diff --git a/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegator.java b/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegator.java
index 2bafe4d..f64c4da 100644
--- a/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegator.java
+++ b/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegator.java
@@ -85,12 +85,14 @@ public SearchResult retrieveSearchResultsAsync(final String query, final Set<Cap
         .parallel()
         .runOn(Schedulers.io())
         .map(v -> v.retrieveSearchResults(query))
-        .doOnError(e -> LOG.error("Error while executing search task:", e))
         .flatMap(Single::toFlowable)
-        .doAfterNext(r -> task.complete(r))
+        .doAfterNext(task::complete)
         .sequential()
-        .doOnComplete(() -> task.complete())
-        .subscribe();
+        .doOnComplete(task::fullyComplete)
+        .subscribe(x -> {}, e -> {
+          LOG.error("General error while executing search task:", e);
+          task.failureComplete();
+        });
 
     disposables.put(task.getUuid(), disposable);
 
diff --git a/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/SearchResult.java b/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/SearchResult.java
index c65a227..52036f5 100644
--- a/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/SearchResult.java
+++ b/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/SearchResult.java
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchSuggestion;
+import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchSuggestionBuilder;
 import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchTaskResult;
 
 public class SearchResult {
@@ -45,7 +46,16 @@ public boolean isComplete() {
     return complete;
   }
 
-  public void complete() {
+  public void failureComplete() {
+    if (LOG.isTraceEnabled()) {
+      LOG.error("Search task {} has completed with a failure.", uuid);
+    }
+    results.add(SearchSuggestionBuilder.create("Failure during search, please contact the helpdesk"));
+
+    complete = true;
+  }
+
+  public void fullyComplete() {
     if (LOG.isTraceEnabled()) {
       LOG.trace("Search task {} has fully completed.", uuid);
     }
diff --git a/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/sync/BlockingSearchTaskDelegator.java b/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/sync/BlockingSearchTaskDelegator.java
index fb79057..fb4b7f4 100644
--- a/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/sync/BlockingSearchTaskDelegator.java
+++ b/search-service/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/sync/BlockingSearchTaskDelegator.java
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 import io.reactivex.rxjava3.schedulers.Schedulers;
 
 import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchSuggestion;
+import nl.aerius.search.domain.SearchSuggestionBuilder;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.CapabilityKey;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.SearchTaskService;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.TaskFactory;
@@ -69,6 +70,10 @@ public List<SearchSuggestion> retrieveSearchResults(final String query, final Se
         .flatMap(v -> Flowable.fromIterable(v.getSuggestions()))
         .sorted(TaskUtils.getResultComparator())
         .toList()
+        .onErrorReturn(e -> {
+          LOG.error("General error while executing search task:", e);
+          return List.of(SearchSuggestionBuilder.create("Failure during search, please contact the helpdesk"));
+        })
         .blockingGet();
   }
 }
diff --git a/search-service/src/main/resources/templates/synchronous-form.html b/search-service/src/main/resources/templates/synchronous-form.html
index da3f1ab..9abb883 100644
--- a/search-service/src/main/resources/templates/synchronous-form.html
+++ b/search-service/src/main/resources/templates/synchronous-form.html
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ <h5>Mocks</h5>
         <div><input type="checkbox" id="MOCK_5" data-name="MOCK_5" onchange="toggleCapability(this)"><label for="MOCK_5">mock_5 (5 sec delayed mock result)</label></div>
         <div><input type="checkbox" id="MOCK_GROUP_0" data-name="MOCK_GROUP_0" onchange="toggleCapability(this)"><label for="MOCK_GROUP_0">mock_group_0 (0 sec delayed mock group result)</label></div>
         <div><input type="checkbox" id="MOCK_GROUP_1" data-name="MOCK_GROUP_1" onchange="toggleCapability(this)"><label for="MOCK_GROUP_1">mock_group_1 (1 sec delayed mock group result)</label></div>
+        <div><input type="checkbox" id="MOCK_RUNTIME_EXCEPTION" data-name="MOCK_RUNTIME_EXCEPTION" onchange="toggleCapability(this)"><label for="MOCK_RUNTIME_EXCEPTION">mock_runtime_exception (instant runtime exception during search)</label></div>
       </div>
 
       <input class="submit" type="submit" text="Submit">
diff --git a/search-service/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegatorTest.java b/search-service/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegatorTest.java
index 7b371f9..5362c51 100644
--- a/search-service/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegatorTest.java
+++ b/search-service/src/test/java/nl/aerius/search/tasks/async/AsyncSearchTaskDelegatorTest.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.CapabilityKey;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.Mock0SecondTask;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.MockHalfSecondTask;
+import nl.aerius.search.tasks.MockRuntimeExceptionTask;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.MockTenthSecondTask;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.SearchTaskService;
 import nl.aerius.search.tasks.TaskFactory;
@@ -69,14 +70,17 @@ void testResponseDelays() throws InterruptedException {
     TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS.sleep(50);
     final SearchResult result3 = delegator.retrieveSearchTask(uuid);
     assertEquals(1, result3.getResults().size(), "Should have 1 results at this point.");
+    assertFalse(result3.isComplete(), "Result should not be complete at this point.");
 
     TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS.sleep(100);
     final SearchResult result4 = delegator.retrieveSearchTask(uuid);
     assertEquals(2, result4.getResults().size(), "Should have 2 results at this point.");
+    assertFalse(result4.isComplete(), "Result should not be complete at this point.");
 
     TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS.sleep(400);
     final SearchResult result5 = delegator.retrieveSearchTask(uuid);
     assertEquals(3, result5.getResults().size(), "Should have 3 results at this point.");
+    assertTrue(result5.isComplete(), "Result should now be complete at this point.");
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -98,4 +102,35 @@ void testResponseCancellation() throws InterruptedException {
     assertTrue(result1.getResults().isEmpty(),
         "Results should still be empty after the task completes (>100ms) - the individual task was not cancelled");
   }
+
+  @Test
+  void testResponseRuntimeException() throws InterruptedException {
+    final SearchTaskService mock0Task = new Mock0SecondTask();
+    final SearchTaskService mock01Task = new MockTenthSecondTask();
+    final SearchTaskService mockRuntimeException = new MockRuntimeExceptionTask();
+
+    final Set<SearchTaskService> tasks = Set.of(mock0Task, mock01Task, mockRuntimeException);
+
+    final TaskFactory factory = new TaskFactory(tasks);
+    factory.onFactoryConstructed();
+    delegator = new AsyncSearchTaskDelegator(factory);
+
+    final Set<CapabilityKey> caps = Set.of(CapabilityKey.of(SearchCapability.MOCK_0, SearchRegion.NL),
+        CapabilityKey.of(SearchCapability.MOCK_01, SearchRegion.NL),
+        CapabilityKey.of(SearchCapability.MOCK_RUNTIME_EXCEPTION, SearchRegion.NL));
+    final SearchResult result1 = delegator.retrieveSearchResultsAsync("test", caps);
+    final String uuid = result1.getUuid();
+
+    final SearchResult result2 = delegator.retrieveSearchTask(uuid);
+
+    assertFalse(result2.isComplete(), "Result should not be complete at this point.");
+    assertNotNull(result2.getResults(), "Results should not be null at this point.");
+
+    TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS.sleep(50);
+    final SearchResult result3 = delegator.retrieveSearchTask(uuid);
+    assertEquals(1, result3.getResults().size(), "Should have 1 results at this point.");
+    assertTrue(result3.isComplete(), "Result should now be complete at this point, runtime exception should have triggered.");
+    assertEquals("Failure during search, please contact the helpdesk", result3.getResults().get(0).getDescription(),
+        "Description in case of failure");
+  }
 }
diff --git a/search-shared/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/domain/SearchCapability.java b/search-shared/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/domain/SearchCapability.java
index 0069702..515450d 100644
--- a/search-shared/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/domain/SearchCapability.java
+++ b/search-shared/src/main/java/nl/aerius/search/domain/SearchCapability.java
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ public enum SearchCapability {
   MOCK_5,
 
   MOCK_GROUP_0,
-  MOCK_GROUP_1;
+  MOCK_GROUP_1,
+
+  MOCK_RUNTIME_EXCEPTION;
 
   public static SearchCapability safeValueOf(final String name) {
     try {