diff --git a/src/backend/tools/gmail/auth.py b/src/backend/tools/gmail/auth.py
index a36bd2569b..cc95a8e4af 100644
--- a/src/backend/tools/gmail/auth.py
+++ b/src/backend/tools/gmail/auth.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def retrieve_auth_token(
             logger.error(
                 event=f"[Gmail] Error retrieving auth token: {response_body}"
             )
-            return response
+            return ""
 
         tool_auth_crud.create_tool_auth(
             session,