diff --git a/backend/app/routers/connections.py b/backend/app/routers/connections.py
index 430c015..2f90b3b 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/connections.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/connections.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Security:
 - Audit logging for all connection events
 """
 import asyncio
+import logging
 from datetime import date as date_type, datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, BackgroundTasks, Depends, HTTPException, Path, Query, Request
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ from app.services.connection import (
 from app.services.notification import create_notification
 
 router = APIRouter()
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 # ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -355,6 +357,24 @@ async def respond_to_request(
     current_user: User = Depends(get_current_user),
 ):
     """Accept or reject a connection request. Atomic via UPDATE...WHERE status='pending'."""
+    try:
+        return await _respond_to_request_inner(body, request, background_tasks, request_id, db, current_user)
+    except HTTPException:
+        raise
+    except Exception:
+        # get_db middleware auto-rollbacks on unhandled exceptions
+        logger.exception("Unhandled error in respond_to_request (request_id=%s, user=%s)", request_id, current_user.id)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Internal server error while processing connection response (request {request_id})")
+
+
+async def _respond_to_request_inner(
+    body: RespondRequest,
+    request: Request,
+    background_tasks: BackgroundTasks,
+    request_id: int,
+    db: AsyncSession,
+    current_user: User,
+) -> RespondAcceptResponse | RespondRejectResponse:
     now = datetime.now()
 
     # Atomic update — only succeeds if status is still 'pending' and receiver is current user
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx b/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx
index 4ebd234..53f6d0c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/notifications/NotificationToaster.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ export default function NotificationToaster() {
   const prevUnreadRef = useRef(0);
   // Track in-flight request IDs so repeated clicks are blocked
   const respondingRef = useRef<Set<number>>(new Set());
+  // Always call the latest respond — Sonner toasts capture closures at creation time
+  const respondRef = useRef(respond);
+  respondRef.current = respond;
 
   const handleConnectionRespond = useCallback(
     async (requestId: number, action: 'accept' | 'reject', toastId: string | number) => {
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ export default function NotificationToaster() {
       );
 
       try {
-        await respond({ requestId, action });
+        await respondRef.current({ requestId, action });
         toast.dismiss(loadingId);
         toast.success(action === 'accept' ? 'Connection accepted' : 'Request declined');
       } catch (err) {
@@ -40,7 +43,7 @@ export default function NotificationToaster() {
         respondingRef.current.delete(requestId);
       }
     },
-    [respond],
+    [],
   );
 
   // Track unread count changes to force-refetch the list