diff --git a/vespadb/observations/helpers.py b/vespadb/observations/helpers.py
index 04c866e..a7164f5 100644
--- a/vespadb/observations/helpers.py
+++ b/vespadb/observations/helpers.py
@@ -62,16 +62,14 @@ def parse_and_convert_to_cet(datetime_str: str) -> datetime:
     return parser.parse(datetime_str).astimezone(cet_tz)
 
 
-def retry_with_backoff(func: Callable[..., T], *args: Any, max_retries: int = 3, backoff_in_seconds: int = 2) -> Any:
+def retry_with_backoff(func: Callable[..., T], retries: int=3, backoff_in_seconds: int=2) -> Any:
     """Retry mechanism for retrying a function with a backoff strategy."""
-    attempt = 0
-    while attempt < max_retries:
+    for attempt in range(retries):
         try:
-            return func(*args)  # Call the function with the provided arguments
-        except OperationalError:
-            attempt += 1
-            if attempt < max_retries:
-                time.sleep(backoff_in_seconds)  # Wait before retrying
+            return func()
+        except Exception as e:
+            if attempt < retries - 1:
+                wait_time = backoff_in_seconds * (2 ** attempt)
+                time.sleep(wait_time)
             else:
                 raise
-    return None
diff --git a/vespadb/observations/views.py b/vespadb/observations/views.py
index 854588c..fcbdc29 100644
--- a/vespadb/observations/views.py
+++ b/vespadb/observations/views.py
@@ -633,38 +633,41 @@ def save_observations(self, valid_data: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> Response:
     @method_decorator(ratelimit(key="ip", rate="60/m", method="GET", block=True))
     @action(detail=False, methods=["get"], permission_classes=[AllowAny])
     def export(self, request: Request) -> Response:
-        export_format = request.query_params.get("export_format", "csv").lower()
-        queryset = self.filter_queryset(self.get_queryset())
-        paginator = Paginator(queryset, 1000)  # Process in batches of 1000 items
+        try:
+            export_format = request.query_params.get("export_format", "csv").lower()
+            queryset = self.filter_queryset(self.get_queryset())
+            paginator = Paginator(queryset, 1000)  # Process in batches of 1000 items
 
-        serialized_data = []
-        errors = []
+            serialized_data = []
+            errors = []
 
-        # Loop through each page in the paginator
-        for page_number in paginator.page_range:
-            page = paginator.page(page_number)
+            # Loop through each page in the paginator
+            for page_number in paginator.page_range:
+                page = paginator.page(page_number)
 
-            try:
-                # Try serializing the page
-                serializer = self.get_serializer(page, many=True)
-                serialized_data.extend(serializer.data)
-            except Exception as e:
-                # Retry with backoff for individual objects on failure
-                for obj in page.object_list:
-                    try:
-                        serialized_obj = retry_with_backoff(lambda: self.get_serializer(obj).data)
-                        serialized_data.append(serialized_obj)
-                    except Exception as inner_error:
-                        errors.append({
-                            "id": obj.id,
-                            "error": str(inner_error)
-                        })
-        
-        if export_format == "csv":
-            return self.export_as_csv(serialized_data)
+                try:
+                    # Try serializing the page
+                    serializer = self.get_serializer(page, many=True)
+                    serialized_data.extend(serializer.data)
+                except Exception as e:
+                    # Retry with backoff for individual objects on failure
+                    for obj in page.object_list:
+                        try:
+                            serialized_obj = retry_with_backoff(lambda: self.get_serializer(obj).data)
+                            serialized_data.append(serialized_obj)
+                        except Exception as inner_error:
+                            errors.append({
+                                "id": obj.id,
+                                "error": str(inner_error)
+                            })
+            
+            if export_format == "csv":
+                return self.export_as_csv(serialized_data)
+            
+            return JsonResponse({"data": serialized_data, "errors": errors}, safe=False)
+        except Exception as e:
+            return JsonResponse({"errors": errors}, safe=False)
         
-        return JsonResponse({"data": serialized_data, "errors": errors}, safe=False)
-
     def export_as_csv(self, data: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> HttpResponse:
         """Export the data as a CSV file."""
         response = HttpResponse(content_type="text/csv")