diff --git a/modules/convert/src/main/scala/docspell/convert/extern/ExternConv.scala b/modules/convert/src/main/scala/docspell/convert/extern/ExternConv.scala
index dcb02206..c0212f09 100644
--- a/modules/convert/src/main/scala/docspell/convert/extern/ExternConv.scala
+++ b/modules/convert/src/main/scala/docspell/convert/extern/ExternConv.scala
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ private[extern] object ExternConv {
       }
       .compile
       .lastOrError
+      .attempt
+      .flatMap {
+        case Right(v) =>
+          v.pure[F]
+        case Left(ex) =>
+          handler.run(ConversionResult.failure(ex))
+      }
 
   def readResult[F[_]: Sync: ContextShift](
       blocker: Blocker,