diff --git a/labgrid/remote/exporter.py b/labgrid/remote/exporter.py
index 020358d89..88a434a25 100755
--- a/labgrid/remote/exporter.py
+++ b/labgrid/remote/exporter.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ class ExporterError(Exception):
 class BrokenResourceError(ExporterError):
     pass
 
+class UnknownResourceError(ExporterError):
+    pass
+
+class InvalidResourceRequestError(ExporterError):
+    pass
 
 def log_subprocess_kernel_stack(logger, child):
     if child.poll() is not None:  # nothing to check if no longer running
@@ -889,7 +894,7 @@ async def message_pump(self):
                                 out_message.set_acquired_request.resource_name,
                             )
                         success = True
-                    except BrokenResourceError as e:
+                    except BrokenResourceError, InvalidResourceRequestError, UnknownResourceError as e:
                         reason = e.args[0]
                     finally:
                         in_message = labgrid_coordinator_pb2.ExporterInMessage()
@@ -924,8 +929,10 @@ async def message_pump(self):
     async def acquire(self, group_name, resource_name, place_name):
         resource = self.groups.get(group_name, {}).get(resource_name)
         if resource is None:
-            logging.error("acquire request for unknown resource %s/%s by %s", group_name, resource_name, place_name)
-            return
+            raise UnknownResourceError(f"acquire request for unknown resource {group_name}/{resource_name} by {place_name}")
+
+        if resource.acquired:
+            raise InvalidResourceRequestError(f"Resource {group_name}/{resource_name} is already acquired by {resource.acquired}")
 
         try:
             resource.acquire(place_name)
@@ -935,8 +942,11 @@ async def acquire(self, group_name, resource_name, place_name):
     async def release(self, group_name, resource_name):
         resource = self.groups.get(group_name, {}).get(resource_name)
         if resource is None:
-            logging.error("release request for unknown resource %s/%s", group_name, resource_name)
-            return
+            logging.error()
+            raise UnknownResourceError(f"release request for unknown resource {group_name}/{resource_name}")
+
+        if not resource.acquired:
+            raise InvalidResourceRequestError(f"Resource {group_name}/{resource_name} is not acquired")
 
         try:
             resource.release()