diff --git a/rhodecode/api/tests/utils.py b/rhodecode/api/tests/utils.py
--- a/rhodecode/api/tests/utils.py
+++ b/rhodecode/api/tests/utils.py
@@ -83,10 +83,14 @@ def build_data(apikey, method, **kw):
     })
 
 
-def api_call(app, params, status=None):
+def api_call(app, params, status=None, assert_no_error=False):
     response = app.post(
         API_URL, content_type='application/json', params=params, status=status,
         headers=[('Content-Type', 'application/json')])
+    if assert_no_error:
+        err_resp = response.json.get('error')
+        if err_resp:
+            raise AssertionError(f'ERROR in response: {err_resp}')
     return response
 
 
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/str_utils.py b/rhodecode/lib/str_utils.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/str_utils.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/str_utils.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def safe_float(val, default=None) -> flo
     return val
 
 
-def base64_to_str(text) -> str:
+def base64_to_str(text: str | bytes) -> str:
     return safe_str(base64.encodebytes(safe_bytes(text))).strip()
 
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 # Copyright (C) 2010-2023 RhodeCode GmbH
 #
 # This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify