diff --git a/enterprise/api/v1/views.py b/enterprise/api/v1/views.py
index bb7793f20a..77389caf2f 100644
--- a/enterprise/api/v1/views.py
+++ b/enterprise/api/v1/views.py
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ def algolia_key(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         """
 
         if not settings.ENTERPRISE_ALGOLIA_SEARCH_API_KEY:
-            raise ValidationError("Algolia API key not configured.", code=HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
+            return Response("Algolia API key not configured", status=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
 
         queryset = self.queryset.filter(
             **{
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ def algolia_key(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         ).values_list("uuid", flat=True)
 
         if len(queryset) == 0:
-            raise ValidationError("User is not linked to any enterprise customers.", code=HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND)
+            raise NotFound("User is not linked to any enterprise customers.")
 
         secured_key = SearchClient.generate_secured_api_key(
             settings.ENTERPRISE_ALGOLIA_SEARCH_API_KEY,
diff --git a/enterprise/settings/test.py b/enterprise/settings/test.py
index 9a53f10e0d..50fd95e46e 100644
--- a/enterprise/settings/test.py
+++ b/enterprise/settings/test.py
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ def root(*args):
     'status': 'published'
 }
 
+ENTERPRISE_ALGOLIA_SEARCH_API_KEY = 'test'
+
 SNOWFLAKE_SERVICE_USER = 'TEST@EDX.ORG'
 SNOWFLAKE_SERVICE_USER_PASSWORD = 'secret'