diff --git a/src/rabbitmq_handler.py b/src/rabbitmq_handler.py
index 2581a0d..a29c8bd 100644
--- a/src/rabbitmq_handler.py
+++ b/src/rabbitmq_handler.py
@@ -144,10 +144,16 @@ class RabbitMQConsumer:
 		if self._closing:
 			logger.debug("[RabbitMQ] Skipping message because consumer is closing")
 			return
+
 		async with message.process():
 			try:
 				data = json.loads(message.body.decode())
 				logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Received message: {data}")
+
+				if message.routing_key in [self.dlq_queue_name, "notify.dlq"]:
+					logger.info(f"[RabbitMQ] Message in DLQ, skipping processing: {data}")
+					return
+
 				uuid = data.get("uuid")
 
 				if uuid:
@@ -164,7 +170,15 @@ class RabbitMQConsumer:
 					decrypted_token = decrypt_token(token) 
 					token_map[uuid] = decrypted_token
 				response = await send_notification(message=data,push_tokens=token_map)
-				await self.validate_delivery(response,message)
+
+				# Validate delivery - any errors here should NOT prevent acknowledgment
+				# because notifications were already sent. Instead, we handle retries/DLQ
+				# by publishing new messages.
+				try:
+					await self.validate_delivery(response,message)
+				except Exception as validation_error:
+					logger.error(f"[RabbitMQ] Error during delivery validation: {validation_error}", exc_info=True)
+					metrics.MSG_FAILED.inc()
 
 			except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
 				logger.error(f"[RabbitMQ] Bad message, discarding: {e}", exc_info=True)
@@ -174,7 +188,7 @@ class RabbitMQConsumer:
 				await message.nack(requeue=True)
 			except Exception as e:
 				logger.critical(f"[RabbitMQ] Fatal error: {e}", exc_info=True)
-				raise
+				metrics.MSG_FAILED.inc()
 
 	async def validate_delivery(self,response,message: aio_pika.IncomingMessage):
 		"""
@@ -208,37 +222,52 @@ class RabbitMQConsumer:
 		See: https://docs.expo.dev/push-notifications/sending-notifications/
 		"""
 		for uuid, result in response.items():
-			status = result.get("status")
-			data_list = result.get("data", {}).get("data", [])
-			api_status = data_list[0].get("status") if data_list else None
+			try:
+				status = result.get("status")
+				data_list = result.get("data", {}).get("data", [])
 
-			if status == "ok" and api_status == "ok":
-				logger.info(f"[RabbitMQ] Notification delivered successfully to {uuid}")
-				metrics.MSG_PUBLISHED.inc()
-				logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Metrics updated for published message: uuid={uuid}")
+				api_status = None
+				api_error = None
+				if data_list and isinstance(data_list, list) and len(data_list) > 0:
+					first_item = data_list[0]
+					if isinstance(first_item, dict):
+						api_status = first_item.get("status")
+						api_error = first_item.get("details", {}).get("error")
+
+				logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Processing delivery for uuid={uuid}, status={status}, api_status={api_status}")
+
+				if status == "ok" and api_status == "ok":
+					logger.info(f"[RabbitMQ] Notification delivered successfully to {uuid}")
+					metrics.MSG_PUBLISHED.inc()
+					logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Metrics updated for published message: uuid={uuid}")
 
 
-			if status == "ok" and api_status == "error":
-				api_error = data_list[0].get("details", {}).get("error")
-				if api_error == "DeviceNotRegistered":
-					expired = await remove_inactive_push_token(uuid, self.db_manager)
-					if expired:
-						logger.info(f"[RabbitMQ] Device no longer registered for uuid {uuid}, marked expired")
+				elif status == "ok" and api_status == "error":
+					if api_error == "DeviceNotRegistered":
+						expired = await remove_inactive_push_token(uuid, self.db_manager)
+						if expired:
+							logger.info(f"[RabbitMQ] Device no longer registered for uuid {uuid}, marked expired")
+						else:
+							logger.error(f"[RabbitMQ] Failed expiring token for uuid: {uuid}")
 					else:
-						logger.error(f"[RabbitMQ] Failed expiring token for uuid: {uuid}")
-				else:
+						await self.send_message_to_dlq(uuid, message)
+						logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Message sent to DLQ due to API error: uuid={uuid}, error={api_error}")
+
+
+				elif status == "error":
 					await self.send_message_to_dlq(uuid, message)
-					logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Message sent to DLQ due to API error: uuid={uuid}")
+					logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Message sent to DLQ due to status=error: uuid={uuid}")
 
+				elif status == "failure":
+					await self.send_message_to_retry_queue(uuid, message)
+					logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Message requeued for retry due to status=failure: uuid={uuid}")
 
-			if status == "error":
-				await self.send_message_to_dlq(uuid, message)
-				logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Message sent to DLQ due to status=error: uuid={uuid}")
-
-			if status == "failure":
-				await self.send_message_to_retry_queue(uuid, message)
-				logger.debug(f"[RabbitMQ] Message requeued for retry due to status=failure: uuid={uuid}")
-
+			except Exception as e:
+				logger.error(f"[RabbitMQ] Error processing delivery validation for uuid={uuid}: {e}", exc_info=True)
+				try:
+					await self.send_message_to_dlq(uuid,message)
+				except Exception as dlQ_error:
+					logger.error(f"[RabbitMQ] Failed to send to DLQ for uuid={uuid}: {dlq_error}")
 
 
 	async def consume(self):