diff --git a/rhodecode/config/environment.py b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
--- a/rhodecode/config/environment.py
+++ b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # and proprietary license terms, please see https://rhodecode.com/licenses/
 
 import logging
+
 import rhodecode
 import collections
 
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/hook_daemon/hook_module.py b/rhodecode/lib/hook_daemon/hook_module.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/hook_daemon/hook_module.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/hook_daemon/hook_module.py
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ class Hooks(object):
             result = hook(extras)
             if result is None:
                 raise Exception(f'Failed to obtain hook result from func: {hook}')
-        except HTTPBranchProtected as handled_error:
+        except HTTPBranchProtected as error:
             # Those special cases don't need error reporting. It's a case of
             # locked repo or protected branch
             result = AttributeDict({
-                'status': handled_error.code,
-                'output': handled_error.explanation
+                'status': error.code,
+                'output': error.explanation
             })
         except (HTTPLockedRC, Exception) as error:
             # locked needs different handling since we need to also
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/hooks_base.py b/rhodecode/lib/hooks_base.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/hooks_base.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/hooks_base.py
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ def pre_push(extras):
         if extras.commit_ids and extras.check_branch_perms:
             auth_user = user.AuthUser()
             repo = Repository.get_by_repo_name(extras.repository)
+            if not repo:
+                raise ValueError(f'Repo for {extras.repository} not found')
             affected_branches = []
             if repo.repo_type == 'hg':
                 for entry in extras.commit_ids:
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/middleware/simplevcs.py b/rhodecode/lib/middleware/simplevcs.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/middleware/simplevcs.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/middleware/simplevcs.py
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ class SimpleVCS(object):
         def compute_perm_vcs(
                 cache_name, plugin_id, action, user_id, repo_name, ip_addr):
 
-            log.debug('auth: calculating permission access now...')
+            log.debug('auth: calculating permission access now for vcs operation: %s', action)
             # check IP
             inherit = user.inherit_default_permissions
             ip_allowed = AuthUser.check_ip_allowed(
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/utils.py b/rhodecode/lib/utils.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/utils.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/utils.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ from webhelpers2.text import collapse, s
 from mako import exceptions
 
 from rhodecode import ConfigGet
+from rhodecode.lib.exceptions import HTTPBranchProtected, HTTPLockedRC
 from rhodecode.lib.hash_utils import sha256_safe, md5, sha1
 from rhodecode.lib.type_utils import AttributeDict
 from rhodecode.lib.str_utils import safe_bytes, safe_str
@@ -88,8 +89,36 @@ def adopt_for_celery(func):
         try:
             # HooksResponse implements to_json method which must be used there.
             return func(extras).to_json()
+        except HTTPBranchProtected as error:
+            # Those special cases don't need error reporting. It's a case of
+            # locked repo or protected branch
+            error_args = error.args
+            return {
+                'status': error.code,
+                'output': error.explanation,
+                'exception': type(error).__name__,
+                'exception_args': error_args,
+                'exception_traceback': '',
+            }
+        except HTTPLockedRC as error:
+            # Those special cases don't need error reporting. It's a case of
+            # locked repo or protected branch
+            error_args = error.args
+            return {
+                'status': error.code,
+                'output': error.explanation,
+                'exception': type(error).__name__,
+                'exception_args': error_args,
+                'exception_traceback': '',
+            }
         except Exception as e:
-            return {'status': 128, 'exception': type(e).__name__, 'exception_args': e.args}
+            return {
+                'status': 128,
+                'output': '',
+                'exception': type(e).__name__,
+                'exception_args': e.args,
+                'exception_traceback': '',
+            }
     return wrapper