diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/core/engine/instrument.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/core/engine/instrument.py
index 7f3460e37c1..7766bd0b8e2 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/core/engine/instrument.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/core/engine/instrument.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 from opentrons.protocol_engine.clients import SyncClient as EngineClient
 from opentrons.protocols.api_support.definitions import MAX_SUPPORTED_VERSION
 
+from opentrons_shared_data.errors.exceptions import PipetteLiquidNotFoundError
 from opentrons_shared_data.pipette.dev_types import PipetteNameType
 from opentrons.protocol_api._nozzle_layout import NozzleLayout
 from opentrons.hardware_control.nozzle_manager import NozzleConfigurationType
@@ -862,8 +863,8 @@ def find_liquid_level(self, well_core: WellCore) -> float:
             result is None
         ):  # this should probably only happen in testing with mock components
             return 0
-        # for general cases, result will either be a float > 0 or an error
+        # for general cases, result will either be a float > 0 or a PipetteLiquidNotFoundError
         try:
             return float(result.z_position)
-        except Exception:
-            raise BaseException(result)
+        except KeyError: 
+            raise PipetteLiquidNotFoundError()
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py
index 4670852bb6f..1fa0d1ef329 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/instrument_context.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from opentrons_shared_data.errors.exceptions import (
     CommandPreconditionViolated,
     CommandParameterLimitViolated,
+    PipetteLiquidNotFoundError,
     UnexpectedTipRemovalError,
 )
 from opentrons.protocol_engine.errors.exceptions import WellDoesNotExistError
@@ -2055,14 +2056,14 @@ def detect_liquid(self, well: labware.Well) -> bool:
         :returns: A boolean.
         """
         if well is None:
-            raise WellDoesNotExistError()
+            raise WellDoesNotExistError() from BaseException
 
         try:
             height = self._core.find_liquid_level(well._core)
             if height > 0:
                 return True
             return False  # it should never get here
-        except Exception:
+        except PipetteLiquidNotFoundError:
             return False
 
     @requires_version(2, 20)
@@ -2072,11 +2073,11 @@ def require_liquid(self, well: labware.Well) -> None:
         :returns: None.
         """
         if well is None:
-            raise WellDoesNotExistError()
+            raise WellDoesNotExistError("Well type was none.")
 
         try:
             self._core.find_liquid_level(well._core)
-        except Exception as e:
+        except PipetteLiquidNotFoundError as e:
             raise e
 
     @requires_version(2, 20)
@@ -2091,5 +2092,5 @@ def get_liquid_height(self, well: labware.Well) -> float:
         try:
             height = self._core.find_liquid_level(well._core)
             return float(height)
-        except Exception:
+        except PipetteLiquidNotFoundError:
             return 0
diff --git a/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_instrument_context.py b/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_instrument_context.py
index bb0bdc8b557..2215daede76 100644
--- a/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_instrument_context.py
+++ b/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_instrument_context.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 """Tests for the InstrumentContext public interface."""
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import inspect
-
-from opentrons.protocol_engine.commands.pipetting_common import LiquidNotFoundError
 import pytest
 from pytest_lazyfixture import lazy_fixture  # type: ignore[import-untyped]
 from decoy import Decoy
@@ -40,6 +38,7 @@
 
 from opentrons_shared_data.errors.exceptions import (
     CommandPreconditionViolated,
+    PipetteLiquidNotFoundError,
 )
 
 
@@ -1281,7 +1280,7 @@ def test_detect_liquid(
     """It should only return booleans. Not raise an exception."""
     mock_well = decoy.mock(cls=Well)
     decoy.when(mock_instrument_core.find_liquid_level(mock_well._core)).then_raise(
-        Exception(LiquidNotFoundError)
+        Exception(PipetteLiquidNotFoundError)
     )
     result = subject.detect_liquid(mock_well)
     assert isinstance(result, bool)
@@ -1297,17 +1296,17 @@ def test_require_liquid(
     """It should raise an exception when called on an."""
     mock_well = decoy.mock(cls=Well)
     decoy.when(mock_instrument_core.find_liquid_level(mock_well._core)).then_raise(
-        Exception(LiquidNotFoundError)
+        Exception(PipetteLiquidNotFoundError)
     )
     try:
         subject.require_liquid(mock_well)
         assert False
-    except Exception:
+    except PipetteLiquidNotFoundError:
         assert True
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("api_version", [APIVersion(2, 20)])
-def get_liquid_height(
+def test_get_liquid_height(
     decoy: Decoy,
     mock_instrument_core: InstrumentCore,
     subject: InstrumentContext,
@@ -1316,10 +1315,10 @@ def get_liquid_height(
     """It should return 0 on an empty well."""
     mock_well = decoy.mock(cls=Well)
     decoy.when(mock_instrument_core.find_liquid_level(mock_well._core)).then_raise(
-        Exception(LiquidNotFoundError)
+        Exception(PipetteLiquidNotFoundError)
     )
     try:
         result = subject.get_liquid_height(mock_well)
         assert False
-    except Exception:
+    except PipetteLiquidNotFoundError:
         assert result == 0