diff --git a/cinder/api/contrib/volume_actions.py b/cinder/api/contrib/volume_actions.py
index ae3f1f9e365..1e9cc529dbc 100644
--- a/cinder/api/contrib/volume_actions.py
+++ b/cinder/api/contrib/volume_actions.py
@@ -210,7 +210,11 @@ class VolumeActionsController(wsgi.Controller):
             connector = body['os-terminate_connection']['connector']
         except KeyError:
             raise webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest("Must specify 'connector'")
-        self.volume_api.terminate_connection(context, volume, connector)
+        try:
+            self.volume_api.terminate_connection(context, volume, connector)
+        except exception.VolumeBackendAPIException as error:
+            msg = _("Unable to terminate volume connection from backend.")
+            raise webob.exc.HTTPInternalServerError(explanation=msg)
         return webob.Response(status_int=202)
 
     @wsgi.response(202)
diff --git a/cinder/tests/api/contrib/test_volume_actions.py b/cinder/tests/api/contrib/test_volume_actions.py
index 82f4e126d2c..1a70daffd2a 100644
--- a/cinder/tests/api/contrib/test_volume_actions.py
+++ b/cinder/tests/api/contrib/test_volume_actions.py
@@ -107,34 +107,44 @@ class VolumeActionsTest(test.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(res.status_int, 500)
 
     def test_terminate_connection(self):
-        def fake_terminate_connection(*args, **kwargs):
-            return {}
-        self.stubs.Set(volume.API, 'terminate_connection',
-                       fake_terminate_connection)
+        with mock.patch.object(volume_api.API,
+                               'terminate_connection') as terminate_conn:
+            terminate_conn.return_value = {}
+            body = {'os-terminate_connection': {'connector': 'fake'}}
+            req = webob.Request.blank('/v2/fake/volumes/1/action')
+            req.method = "POST"
+            req.body = jsonutils.dumps(body)
+            req.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
 
-        body = {'os-terminate_connection': {'connector': 'fake'}}
-        req = webob.Request.blank('/v2/fake/volumes/1/action')
-        req.method = "POST"
-        req.body = jsonutils.dumps(body)
-        req.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
-
-        res = req.get_response(fakes.wsgi_app())
-        self.assertEqual(res.status_int, 202)
+            res = req.get_response(fakes.wsgi_app())
+            self.assertEqual(res.status_int, 202)
 
     def test_terminate_connection_without_connector(self):
-        def fake_terminate_connection(*args, **kwargs):
-            return {}
-        self.stubs.Set(volume.API, 'terminate_connection',
-                       fake_terminate_connection)
+        with mock.patch.object(volume_api.API,
+                               'terminate_connection') as terminate_conn:
+            terminate_conn.return_value = {}
+            body = {'os-terminate_connection': {}}
+            req = webob.Request.blank('/v2/fake/volumes/1/action')
+            req.method = "POST"
+            req.body = jsonutils.dumps(body)
+            req.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
 
-        body = {'os-terminate_connection': {}}
-        req = webob.Request.blank('/v2/fake/volumes/1/action')
-        req.method = "POST"
-        req.body = jsonutils.dumps(body)
-        req.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
+            res = req.get_response(fakes.wsgi_app())
+            self.assertEqual(res.status_int, 400)
 
-        res = req.get_response(fakes.wsgi_app())
-        self.assertEqual(res.status_int, 400)
+    def test_terminate_connection_with_exception(self):
+        with mock.patch.object(volume_api.API,
+                               'terminate_connection') as terminate_conn:
+            terminate_conn.side_effect = \
+                exception.VolumeBackendAPIException(data=None)
+            body = {'os-terminate_connection': {'connector': 'fake'}}
+            req = webob.Request.blank('/v2/fake/volumes/1/action')
+            req.method = "POST"
+            req.body = jsonutils.dumps(body)
+            req.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
+
+            res = req.get_response(fakes.wsgi_app())
+            self.assertEqual(res.status_int, 500)
 
     def test_attach_to_instance(self):
         body = {'os-attach': {'instance_uuid': 'fake',
diff --git a/cinder/volume/manager.py b/cinder/volume/manager.py
index 9c8fef2b325..4ee29e49855 100644
--- a/cinder/volume/manager.py
+++ b/cinder/volume/manager.py
@@ -750,7 +750,14 @@ class VolumeManager(manager.SchedulerDependentManager):
         The format of connector is the same as for initialize_connection.
         """
         volume_ref = self.db.volume_get(context, volume_id)
-        self.driver.terminate_connection(volume_ref, connector, force=force)
+        try:
+            self.driver.terminate_connection(volume_ref,
+                                             connector, force=force)
+        except Exception as err:
+            err_msg = (_('Unable to terminate volume connection: %(err)s')
+                       % {'err': str(err)})
+            LOG.error(err_msg)
+            raise exception.VolumeBackendAPIException(data=err_msg)
 
     @utils.require_driver_initialized
     def accept_transfer(self, context, volume_id, new_user, new_project):