diff --git a/packages/cli/src/license/license.controller.ts b/packages/cli/src/license/license.controller.ts
index e5dd13a18ba9c..7fc24df18846c 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/license/license.controller.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/license/license.controller.ts
@@ -75,25 +75,29 @@ licenseController.post(
 		} catch (e) {
 			const error = e as Error & { errorId?: string };
 
+			let message = 'Failed to activate license';
+
 			//override specific error messages (to map License Server vocabulary to n8n terms)
 			switch (error.errorId ?? 'UNSPECIFIED') {
 				case 'SCHEMA_VALIDATION':
-					error.message = 'Activation key is in the wrong format';
+					message = 'Activation key is in the wrong format';
 					break;
 				case 'RESERVATION_EXHAUSTED':
-					error.message =
+					message =
 						'Activation key has been used too many times. Please contact sales@n8n.io if you would like to extend it';
 					break;
 				case 'RESERVATION_EXPIRED':
-					error.message = 'Activation key has expired';
+					message = 'Activation key has expired';
 					break;
 				case 'NOT_FOUND':
 				case 'RESERVATION_CONFLICT':
-					error.message = 'Activation key not found';
+					message = 'Activation key not found';
 					break;
+				default:
+					getLogger().error(message, { stack: error.stack ?? 'n/a' });
 			}
 
-			throw new ResponseHelper.BadRequestError(error.message);
+			throw new ResponseHelper.BadRequestError(message);
 		}
 
 		// Return the read data, plus the management JWT
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/integration/license.api.test.ts b/packages/cli/test/integration/license.api.test.ts
index dc023094b531b..3b45f507f4f12 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/integration/license.api.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/test/integration/license.api.test.ts
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ describe('POST /license/activate', () => {
 
 	test('errors out properly', async () => {
 		License.prototype.activate = jest.fn().mockImplementation(() => {
-			throw new Error(INVALID_ACIVATION_KEY_MESSAGE);
+			throw new Error(ACTIVATION_FAILED_MESSAGE);
 		});
 
 		await authOwnerAgent
 			.post('/license/activate')
 			.send({ activationKey: 'abcde' })
-			.expect(400, { code: 400, message: INVALID_ACIVATION_KEY_MESSAGE });
+			.expect(400, { code: 400, message: ACTIVATION_FAILED_MESSAGE });
 	});
 });
 
@@ -135,5 +135,5 @@ const DEFAULT_POST_RESPONSE: { data: ILicensePostResponse } = {
 };
 
 const NON_OWNER_ACTIVATE_RENEW_MESSAGE = 'Only an instance owner may activate or renew a license';
-const INVALID_ACIVATION_KEY_MESSAGE = 'Invalid activation key';
+const ACTIVATION_FAILED_MESSAGE = 'Failed to activate license';
 const RENEW_ERROR_MESSAGE = 'Something went wrong when trying to renew license';