diff --git a/apps/chat2/chat2.nim b/apps/chat2/chat2.nim
index 877c7044e..fdd328f40 100644
--- a/apps/chat2/chat2.nim
+++ b/apps/chat2/chat2.nim
@@ -208,11 +208,16 @@ proc publish(c: Chat, line: string) =
       # update the last epoch
       c.node.wakuRlnRelay.lastEpoch = proof.epoch
 
-    if not c.node.wakuLightPush.isNil():
-      # Attempt lightpush
-      asyncSpawn c.node.lightpushPublish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
-    else:
-      asyncSpawn c.node.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
+    try:
+      if not c.node.wakuLightPush.isNil():
+        # Attempt lightpush
+        (waitFor c.node.lightpushPublish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)).isOkOr:
+          error "failed to publish lightpush message", error = error
+      else:
+        (waitFor c.node.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)).isOkOr:
+          error "failed to publish message", error = error
+    except CatchableError:
+        error "caught error publishing message: ", error = getCurrentExceptionMsg()      
 
 # TODO This should read or be subscribe handler subscribe
 proc readAndPrint(c: Chat) {.async.} =
diff --git a/apps/chat2bridge/chat2bridge.nim b/apps/chat2bridge/chat2bridge.nim
index 375f6c196..70f0f6db5 100644
--- a/apps/chat2bridge/chat2bridge.nim
+++ b/apps/chat2bridge/chat2bridge.nim
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ proc toChat2(cmb: Chat2MatterBridge, jsonNode: JsonNode) {.async.} =
 
   chat2_mb_transfers.inc(labelValues = ["mb_to_chat2"])
 
-  await cmb.nodev2.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), msg)
+  (await cmb.nodev2.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), msg)).isOkOr:
+    error "failed to publish message", error = error
 
 proc toMatterbridge(cmb: Chat2MatterBridge, msg: WakuMessage) {.gcsafe, raises: [Exception].} =
   if cmb.seen.containsOrAdd(msg.payload.hash()):
diff --git a/examples/publisher.nim b/examples/publisher.nim
index 864b76f72..526340c44 100644
--- a/examples/publisher.nim
+++ b/examples/publisher.nim
@@ -110,8 +110,14 @@ proc setupAndPublish(rng: ref HmacDrbgContext) {.async.} =
                                 contentTopic: contentTopic,     # content topic to publish to
                                 ephemeral: true,                # tell store nodes to not store it
                                 timestamp: now())               # current timestamp
-      await node.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
-      notice "published message", text = text, timestamp = message.timestamp, psTopic = pubSubTopic, contentTopic = contentTopic
+      
+      let res = await node.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+      
+      if res.isOk:
+        notice "published message", text = text, timestamp = message.timestamp, psTopic = pubSubTopic, contentTopic = contentTopic
+      else:
+        error "failed to publish message", error = res.error
+      
       await sleepAsync(5000)
 
 when isMainModule:
diff --git a/tests/test_wakunode.nim b/tests/test_wakunode.nim
index 787bca1a2..e7a1831f3 100644
--- a/tests/test_wakunode.nim
+++ b/tests/test_wakunode.nim
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ suite "WakuNode":
     node2.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
-    await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    var res = await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
     check:
diff --git a/tests/test_wakunode_lightpush.nim b/tests/test_wakunode_lightpush.nim
index 6e986fa1a..610062a73 100644
--- a/tests/test_wakunode_lightpush.nim
+++ b/tests/test_wakunode_lightpush.nim
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ suite "WakuNode - Lightpush":
     await sleepAsync(100.millis)
 
     ## When
-    await lightNode.lightpushPublish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
+    let res = await lightNode.lightpushPublish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
 
     ## Then
     check await completionFutRelay.withTimeout(5.seconds)
diff --git a/tests/waku_relay/test_wakunode_relay.nim b/tests/waku_relay/test_wakunode_relay.nim
index 2d0cbdc77..7d35cee7a 100644
--- a/tests/waku_relay/test_wakunode_relay.nim
+++ b/tests/waku_relay/test_wakunode_relay.nim
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node3.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    var res = await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
 
     ## Then
     check:
@@ -176,11 +177,15 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node3.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message1)
+    var res = await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message1)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+    
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
     # message2 never gets relayed because of the validator
-    await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message2)
+    res = await node1.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message2)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+    
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
     check:
@@ -257,7 +262,9 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node1.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    let res = await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+    
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
 
@@ -298,7 +305,9 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node1.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    let res = await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
 
@@ -343,7 +352,9 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node1.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    let res = await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
     check:
@@ -383,7 +394,9 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node1.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    let res = await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
     check:
@@ -423,7 +436,9 @@ suite "WakuNode - Relay":
     node1.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: pubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
-    await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    let res = await node2.publish(some(pubSubTopic), message)
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+    
     await sleepAsync(500.millis)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/waku_rln_relay/test_wakunode_rln_relay.nim b/tests/waku_rln_relay/test_wakunode_rln_relay.nim
index 947bcebff..4f2365315 100644
--- a/tests/waku_rln_relay/test_wakunode_rln_relay.nim
+++ b/tests/waku_rln_relay/test_wakunode_rln_relay.nim
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - RLN relay":
     ## node1 publishes a message with a rate limit proof, the message is then relayed to node2 which in turn
     ## verifies the rate limit proof of the message and relays the message to node3
     ## verification at node2 occurs inside a topic validator which is installed as part of the waku-rln-relay mount proc
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
 
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - RLN relay":
 
     # publish 3 messages from node[0] (last 2 are spam, window is 10 secs)
     # publish 3 messages from node[1] (last 2 are spam, window is 10 secs)
-    for msg in messages1: await nodes[0].publish(some(pubsubTopics[0]), msg)
-    for msg in messages2: await nodes[1].publish(some(pubsubTopics[1]), msg)
+    for msg in messages1: discard await nodes[0].publish(some(pubsubTopics[0]), msg)
+    for msg in messages2: discard await nodes[1].publish(some(pubsubTopics[1]), msg)
 
     # wait for gossip to propagate
     await sleepAsync(5000.millis)
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - RLN relay":
     ## attempts to verify the rate limit proof and fails hence does not relay the message to node3, thus the relayHandler of node3
     ## never gets called
     ## verification at node2 occurs inside a topic validator which is installed as part of the waku-rln-relay mount proc
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), message)
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
     check:
@@ -378,10 +378,10 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - RLN relay":
     ## node2 should detect either of wm1 or wm2 as spam and not relay it
     ## node2 should relay wm3 to node3
     ## node2 should not relay wm4 because it has no valid rln proof
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm1)
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm2)
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm3)
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm4)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm1)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm2)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm3)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm4)
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
     let
@@ -474,9 +474,9 @@ procSuite "WakuNode - RLN relay":
     node2.subscribe((kind: PubsubSub, topic: DefaultPubsubTopic), some(relayHandler))
     await sleepAsync(2000.millis)
 
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm1)
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm2)
-    await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm3)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm1)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm2)
+    discard await node1.publish(some(DefaultPubsubTopic), wm3)
 
     let
       res1 = await completionFut1.withTimeout(10.seconds)
diff --git a/tests/wakunode2/test_validators.nim b/tests/wakunode2/test_validators.nim
index 17de9822e..f040da1e2 100644
--- a/tests/wakunode2/test_validators.nim
+++ b/tests/wakunode2/test_validators.nim
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         # Include signature
         msg.meta = secretKey.sign(SkMessage(spamProtectedTopic.msgHash(msg))).toRaw()[0..63]
 
-        await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), msg)
+        discard await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), msg)
 
     # Wait for gossip
     await sleepAsync(2.seconds)
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         # Sign the message with a wrong key
         msg.meta = wrongSecretKey.sign(SkMessage(spamProtectedTopic.msgHash(msg))).toRaw()[0..63]
 
-        await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), msg)
+        discard await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), msg)
 
     # Each node sends 5 messages that are not signed (total = 25)
     for i in 0..<5:
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         let unsignedMessage = WakuMessage(
           payload: urandom(1*(10^3)), contentTopic: spamProtectedTopic,
           version: 2, timestamp: now(), ephemeral: true)
-        await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
+        discard await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
 
     # Each node sends 5 messages that dont contain timestamp (total = 25)
     for i in 0..<5:
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         let unsignedMessage = WakuMessage(
           payload: urandom(1*(10^3)), contentTopic: spamProtectedTopic,
           version: 2, timestamp: 0, ephemeral: true)
-        await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
+        discard await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
 
     # Each node sends 5 messages way BEFORE than the current timestmap (total = 25)
     for i in 0..<5:
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         let unsignedMessage = WakuMessage(
           payload: urandom(1*(10^3)), contentTopic: spamProtectedTopic,
           version: 2, timestamp: beforeTimestamp, ephemeral: true)
-        await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
+        discard await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
 
     # Each node sends 5 messages way LATER than the current timestmap (total = 25)
     for i in 0..<5:
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         let unsignedMessage = WakuMessage(
           payload: urandom(1*(10^3)), contentTopic: spamProtectedTopic,
           version: 2, timestamp: afterTimestamp, ephemeral: true)
-        await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
+        discard await nodes[i].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
 
     # Wait for gossip
     await sleepAsync(4.seconds)
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
       let unsignedMessage = WakuMessage(
         payload: urandom(1*(10^3)), contentTopic: spamProtectedTopic,
         version: 2, timestamp: now(), ephemeral: true)
-      await nodes[0].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
+      discard await nodes[0].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), unsignedMessage)
 
     # nodes[0] spams 50 wrongly signed messages (nodes[0] just knows of nodes[1])
     for j in 0..<50:
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ suite "WakuNode2 - Validators":
         version: 2, timestamp: now(), ephemeral: true)
       # Sign the message with a wrong key
       msg.meta = wrongSecretKey.sign(SkMessage(spamProtectedTopic.msgHash(msg))).toRaw()[0..63]
-      await nodes[0].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), msg)
+      discard await nodes[0].publish(some(spamProtectedTopic), msg)
 
     # Wait for gossip
     await sleepAsync(2.seconds)
diff --git a/tests/wakunode_jsonrpc/test_jsonrpc_relay.nim b/tests/wakunode_jsonrpc/test_jsonrpc_relay.nim
index 902a366db..d62589b47 100644
--- a/tests/wakunode_jsonrpc/test_jsonrpc_relay.nim
+++ b/tests/wakunode_jsonrpc/test_jsonrpc_relay.nim
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ suite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API - Relay":
 
     ## When
     for msg in messages:
-      await srcNode.publish(some(pubSubTopic), msg)
+      discard await srcNode.publish(some(pubSubTopic), msg)
 
     await sleepAsync(200.millis)
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ suite "Waku v2 JSON-RPC API - Relay":
 
     ## When
     for msg in messages:
-      await srcNode.publish(none(PubsubTopic), msg)
+      discard await srcNode.publish(none(PubsubTopic), msg)
 
     await sleepAsync(200.millis)
 
diff --git a/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_relay.nim b/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_relay.nim
index 7c023a3d4..c6a126780 100644
--- a/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_relay.nim
+++ b/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_relay.nim
@@ -40,10 +40,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
     await node.start()
     await node.mountRelay()
 
-    let restPort = Port(58011)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let cache = MessageCache.init()
 
     installRelayApiHandlers(restServer.router, node, cache)
@@ -88,10 +90,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
       "pubsub-topic-x",
       ])
 
-    let restPort = Port(58012)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let cache = MessageCache.init()
     cache.pubsubSubscribe("pubsub-topic-1")
     cache.pubsubSubscribe("pubsub-topic-2")
@@ -140,10 +144,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
     await node.start()
     await node.mountRelay()
 
-    let restPort = Port(58013)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let pubSubTopic = "/waku/2/default-waku/proto"
     
     var messages = @[
@@ -203,10 +209,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
         rlnRelayTreePath: genTempPath("rln_tree", "wakunode_1")))
 
     # RPC server setup
-    let restPort = Port(58014)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let cache = MessageCache.init()
 
     installRelayApiHandlers(restServer.router, node, cache)
@@ -243,10 +251,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
     await node.start()
     await node.mountRelay()
 
-    let restPort = Port(58011)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let cache = MessageCache.init()
 
     installRelayApiHandlers(restServer.router, node, cache)
@@ -289,10 +299,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
     await node.start()
     await node.mountRelay()
 
-    let restPort = Port(58012)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let contentTopics = @[
       ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content1/proto"),
       ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content2/proto"),
@@ -335,10 +347,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
     await node.start()
     await node.mountRelay()
 
-    let restPort = Port(58013)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let contentTopic = DefaultContentTopic
 
     var messages = @[
@@ -397,10 +411,12 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
         rlnRelayTreePath: genTempPath("rln_tree", "wakunode_1")))
 
     # RPC server setup
-    let restPort = Port(58014)
+    var restPort = Port(0)
     let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
     let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
 
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
     let cache = MessageCache.init()
     installRelayApiHandlers(restServer.router, node, cache)
     restServer.start()
@@ -424,6 +440,46 @@ suite "Waku v2 Rest API - Relay":
       $response.contentType == $MIMETYPE_TEXT
       response.data == "OK"
 
+    await restServer.stop()
+    await restServer.closeWait()
+    await node.stop()
+
+  asyncTest "Post a message to an invalid content topic - POST /relay/v1/auto/messages/{topic}":
+    ## "Relay API: publish and subscribe/unsubscribe":
+    # Given
+    let node = testWakuNode()
+    await node.start()
+    await node.mountRelay()
+    await node.mountRlnRelay(WakuRlnConfig(rlnRelayDynamic: false,
+        rlnRelayCredIndex: some(1.uint),
+        rlnRelayTreePath: genTempPath("rln_tree", "wakunode_1")))
+
+    # RPC server setup
+    var restPort = Port(0)
+    let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
+    let restServer = RestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
+
+    restPort = restServer.server.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
+    let cache = MessageCache.init()
+    installRelayApiHandlers(restServer.router, node, cache)
+    restServer.start()
+
+    let client = newRestHttpClient(initTAddress(restAddress, restPort))
+
+    # When
+    let response = await client.relayPostAutoMessagesV1(RelayWakuMessage(
+      payload: base64.encode("TEST-PAYLOAD"),
+      contentTopic: some("invalidContentTopic"),
+      timestamp: some(int64(2022))
+    ))
+
+    # Then
+    check:
+      response.status == 400
+      $response.contentType == $MIMETYPE_TEXT
+      response.data == "Failed to publish. Autosharding error: invalid format: topic must start with slash"
+
     await restServer.stop()
     await restServer.closeWait()
     await node.stop()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/waku/node/waku_node.nim b/waku/node/waku_node.nim
index d150d6351..05595d76a 100644
--- a/waku/node/waku_node.nim
+++ b/waku/node/waku_node.nim
@@ -316,20 +316,22 @@ proc publish*(
   node: WakuNode,
   pubsubTopicOp: Option[PubsubTopic],
   message: WakuMessage
-  ) {.async, gcsafe.} =
+  ) : Future[Result[void, string]] {.async, gcsafe.} =
   ## Publish a `WakuMessage`. Pubsub topic contains; none, a named or static shard.
   ## `WakuMessage` should contain a `contentTopic` field for light node functionality.
   ## It is also used to determine the shard.
 
   if node.wakuRelay.isNil():
-    error "Invalid API call to `publish`. WakuRelay not mounted. Try `lightpush` instead."
+    let msg = "Invalid API call to `publish`. WakuRelay not mounted. Try `lightpush` instead."
+    error "publish error", msg=msg
     # TODO: Improve error handling
-    return
+    return err(msg)
 
   let pubsubTopic = pubsubTopicOp.valueOr:
     getShard(message.contentTopic).valueOr:
-      error "Autosharding error", error=error
-      return
+      let msg = "Autosharding error: " & error
+      error "publish error", msg=msg
+      return err(msg)
 
   #TODO instead of discard return error when 0 peers received the message
   discard await node.wakuRelay.publish(pubsubTopic, message)
@@ -339,6 +341,8 @@ proc publish*(
     pubsubTopic=pubsubTopic,
     hash=pubsubTopic.computeMessageHash(message).to0xHex(),
     publishTime=getNowInNanosecondTime()
+  
+  return ok()
 
 proc startRelay*(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
   ## Setup and start relay protocol
@@ -942,22 +946,25 @@ proc lightpushPublish*(node: WakuNode, pubsubTopic: Option[PubsubTopic], message
     return await node.wakuLightpushClient.publish($pubsub, message, peer)
 
 # TODO: Move to application module (e.g., wakunode2.nim)
-proc lightpushPublish*(node: WakuNode, pubsubTopic: Option[PubsubTopic], message: WakuMessage): Future[void] {.async, gcsafe,
+proc lightpushPublish*(node: WakuNode, pubsubTopic: Option[PubsubTopic], message: WakuMessage): Future[WakuLightPushResult[void]] {.async, gcsafe,
   deprecated: "Use 'node.lightpushPublish()' instead".} =
   if node.wakuLightpushClient.isNil():
-    error "failed to publish message", error="waku lightpush client is nil"
-    return
+    let msg = "waku lightpush client is nil"
+    error "failed to publish message", msg=msg
+    return err(msg)
 
   let peerOpt = node.peerManager.selectPeer(WakuLightPushCodec)
   if peerOpt.isNone():
-    error "failed to publish message", error="no suitable remote peers"
-    return
+    let msg = "no suitable remote peers"
+    error "failed to publish message", msg=msg
+    return err(msg)
 
   let publishRes = await node.lightpushPublish(pubsubTopic, message, peer=peerOpt.get())
-  if publishRes.isOk():
-    return
-
-  error "failed to publish message", error=publishRes.error
+  
+  if publishRes.isErr():
+    error "failed to publish message", error=publishRes.error
+  
+  return publishRes
 
 
 ## Waku RLN Relay
diff --git a/waku/waku_api/rest/relay/handlers.nim b/waku/waku_api/rest/relay/handlers.nim
index 1439eb390..d003da5d9 100644
--- a/waku/waku_api/rest/relay/handlers.nim
+++ b/waku/waku_api/rest/relay/handlers.nim
@@ -236,9 +236,14 @@ proc installRelayApiHandlers*(router: var RestRouter, node: WakuNode, cache: Mes
 
     # if we reach here its either a non-RLN message or a RLN message with a valid proof
     debug "Publishing message", contentTopic=message.contentTopic, rln=not node.wakuRlnRelay.isNil()
-    
-    if not (waitFor node.publish(none(PubSubTopic), message).withTimeout(futTimeout)):
-      error "Failed to publish message to topic", contentTopic=message.contentTopic
-      return RestApiResponse.internalServerError("Failed to publish: timedout")
+
+    var publishFut = node.publish(none(PubSubTopic), message)
+    if not await publishFut.withTimeout(futTimeout):
+       return RestApiResponse.internalServerError("Failed to publish: timedout")    
+
+    var res = publishFut.read()
+
+    if res.isErr():
+      return RestApiResponse.badRequest("Failed to publish. " & res.error)
 
     return RestApiResponse.ok()