diff --git a/backend/services/falukantService.js b/backend/services/falukantService.js
index a0a88f3..6ff6623 100644
--- a/backend/services/falukantService.js
+++ b/backend/services/falukantService.js
@@ -5583,7 +5583,7 @@ ORDER BY r.id`,
                         {
                             model: ChurchOfficeType,
                             as: 'type',
-                            attributes: ['hierarchyLevel']
+                            attributes: ['id', 'name', 'hierarchyLevel']
                         },
                         {
                             model: FalukantCharacter,
@@ -5597,8 +5597,12 @@ ORDER BY r.id`,
                     limit: 1
                 });
 
-                if (!supervisorOffice || !supervisorOffice.holder) {
-                    throw new Error('No supervisor found for this position');
+                if (!supervisorOffice) {
+                    throw new Error('No supervisor position exists in this region. Higher church offices must be filled before you can apply.');
+                }
+                if (!supervisorOffice.holder) {
+                    const officeName = supervisorOffice.type?.name || 'higher';
+                    throw new Error(`The ${officeName} position in this region is vacant. It must be filled before you can apply.`);
                 }
                 supervisorId = supervisorOffice.holder.id;
             } else {