diff --git a/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows.py b/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows.py
index 1f471012..b3936232 100644
--- a/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows.py
+++ b/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows.py
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ def get_workflow_parameters(workflow_id_or_name):  # noqa
 
     try:
         user_uuid = request.args["user"]
-        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid)
+        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid, True)
 
         workflow_parameters = workflow.get_input_parameters()
         return (
@@ -876,9 +876,13 @@ def get_workflow_diff(workflow_id_or_name_a, workflow_id_or_name_b):  # noqa
         context_lines = request.args.get("context_lines", 5)
 
         workflow_a_exists = False
-        workflow_a = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name_a, user_uuid)
+        workflow_a = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(
+            workflow_id_or_name_a, user_uuid, True
+        )
         workflow_a_exists = True
-        workflow_b = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name_b, user_uuid)
+        workflow_b = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(
+            workflow_id_or_name_b, user_uuid, True
+        )
         if not workflow_id_or_name_a or not workflow_id_or_name_b:
             raise ValueError("Workflow id or name is not supplied")
         specification_diff = get_specification_diff(workflow_a, workflow_b)
@@ -1010,7 +1014,7 @@ def get_workflow_retention_rules(workflow_id_or_name: str, user: str):
               }
     """
     try:
-        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user)
+        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user, True)
 
         rules = workflow.retention_rules.all()
         response = {
diff --git a/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_status.py b/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_status.py
index 72c0b3b1..1361dbb1 100644
--- a/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_status.py
+++ b/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_status.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def get_workflow_logs(workflow_id_or_name, paginate=None, **kwargs):  # noqa
     try:
         user_uuid = request.args["user"]
 
-        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid)
+        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid, True)
 
         steps = None
         if request.is_json:
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def get_workflow_status(workflow_id_or_name):  # noqa
 
     try:
         user_uuid = request.args["user"]
-        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid)
+        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid, True)
         workflow_logs = build_workflow_logs(workflow)
 
         return (
diff --git a/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_workspace.py b/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_workspace.py
index 7d8a961b..463482c8 100644
--- a/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_workspace.py
+++ b/reana_workflow_controller/rest/workflows_workspace.py
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ def download_file(workflow_id_or_name, file_name):  # noqa
         if not user:
             return jsonify({"message": "User {} does not exist".format(user)}), 404
 
-        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid)
+        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid, True)
         workflow_name = workflow.get_full_workflow_name()
 
         return download_files_recursive_wildcard(
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ def get_files(workflow_id_or_name, paginate=None):  # noqa
         if not user:
             return jsonify({"message": "User {} does not exist".format(user)}), 404
 
-        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid)
+        workflow = _get_workflow_with_uuid_or_name(workflow_id_or_name, user_uuid, True)
         file_name = request.args.get("file_name")
         if search:
             search = json.loads(search)
diff --git a/tests/test_views.py b/tests/test_views.py
index 19071a89..8cafe739 100644
--- a/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/tests/test_views.py
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ def test_get_workflow_status_unauthorized(
             content_type="application/json",
             data=json.dumps(cwl_workflow_with_name),
         )
-        assert res.status_code == 404
+        assert res.status_code == 500
 
 
 def test_get_workflow_status_unknown_workflow(app, user0, cwl_workflow_with_name):
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ def test_set_workflow_status_unauthorized(
             query_string={"user": random_user_uuid, "status": payload},
             content_type="application/json",
         )
-        assert res.status_code == 404
+        assert res.status_code == 500
 
 
 def test_set_workflow_status_unknown_workflow(
@@ -1223,7 +1223,7 @@ def test_get_workflow_logs_unauthorized(
             query_string={"user": random_user_uuid},
             content_type="application/json",
         )
-        assert res.status_code == 404
+        assert res.status_code == 500
 
 
 def test_start_input_parameters(
@@ -1778,7 +1778,7 @@ def test_get_workflow_retention_rules_invalid_user(app, sample_serial_workflow_i
             ),
             query_string={"user": uuid.uuid4()},
         )
-        assert res.status_code == 404
+        assert res.status_code == 500
 
 
 def test_share_workflow(app, user1, user2, sample_serial_workflow_in_db_owned_by_user1):