diff --git a/client/ayon_core/hosts/blender/api/lib.py b/client/ayon_core/hosts/blender/api/lib.py
index 458a275b51..32137f0fcd 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/hosts/blender/api/lib.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/hosts/blender/api/lib.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def load_scripts(paths):
         if register:
             try:
                 register()
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa E722
                 traceback.print_exc()
         else:
             print("\nWarning! '%s' has no register function, "
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def load_scripts(paths):
         if unregister:
             try:
                 unregister()
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa E722
                 traceback.print_exc()
 
     def test_reload(mod):
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def load_scripts(paths):
 
         try:
             return importlib.reload(mod)
-        except:
+        except:  # noqa E722
             traceback.print_exc()
 
     def test_register(mod):
diff --git a/client/ayon_core/hosts/photoshop/plugins/create/create_image.py b/client/ayon_core/hosts/photoshop/plugins/create/create_image.py
index 26f2469844..a44c3490c6 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/hosts/photoshop/plugins/create/create_image.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/hosts/photoshop/plugins/create/create_image.py
@@ -35,8 +35,12 @@ class ImageCreator(Creator):
         create_empty_group = False
 
         stub = api.stub()  # only after PS is up
-        top_level_selected_items = stub.get_selected_layers()
         if pre_create_data.get("use_selection"):
+            try:
+                top_level_selected_items = stub.get_selected_layers()
+            except ValueError:
+                raise CreatorError("Cannot group locked Background layer!")
+
             only_single_item_selected = len(top_level_selected_items) == 1
             if (
                     only_single_item_selected or
@@ -50,11 +54,12 @@ class ImageCreator(Creator):
                 group = stub.group_selected_layers(product_name_from_ui)
                 groups_to_create.append(group)
         else:
-            stub.select_layers(stub.get_layers())
             try:
+                stub.select_layers(stub.get_layers())
                 group = stub.group_selected_layers(product_name_from_ui)
-            except:
+            except ValueError:
                 raise CreatorError("Cannot group locked Background layer!")
+
             groups_to_create.append(group)
 
         # create empty group if nothing selected
diff --git a/client/ayon_core/pipeline/create/context.py b/client/ayon_core/pipeline/create/context.py
index dd005d250c..7615ce6aee 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/pipeline/create/context.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/pipeline/create/context.py
@@ -2053,7 +2053,7 @@ class CreateContext:
             exc_info = sys.exc_info()
             self.log.warning(error_message.format(identifier, exc_info[1]))
 
-        except:
+        except:  # noqa: E722
             add_traceback = True
             exc_info = sys.exc_info()
             self.log.warning(
@@ -2163,7 +2163,7 @@ class CreateContext:
                 exc_info = sys.exc_info()
                 self.log.warning(error_message.format(identifier, exc_info[1]))
 
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa: E722
                 failed = True
                 add_traceback = True
                 exc_info = sys.exc_info()
@@ -2197,7 +2197,7 @@ class CreateContext:
             try:
                 convertor.find_instances()
 
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa: E722
                 failed_info.append(
                     prepare_failed_convertor_operation_info(
                         convertor.identifier, sys.exc_info()
@@ -2373,7 +2373,7 @@ class CreateContext:
                 exc_info = sys.exc_info()
                 self.log.warning(error_message.format(identifier, exc_info[1]))
 
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa: E722
                 failed = True
                 add_traceback = True
                 exc_info = sys.exc_info()
@@ -2440,7 +2440,7 @@ class CreateContext:
                     error_message.format(identifier, exc_info[1])
                 )
 
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa: E722
                 failed = True
                 add_traceback = True
                 exc_info = sys.exc_info()
@@ -2546,7 +2546,7 @@ class CreateContext:
             try:
                 self.run_convertor(convertor_identifier)
 
-            except:
+            except:  # noqa: E722
                 failed_info.append(
                     prepare_failed_convertor_operation_info(
                         convertor_identifier, sys.exc_info()
diff --git a/client/ayon_core/tools/adobe_webserver/app.py b/client/ayon_core/tools/adobe_webserver/app.py
index 7d97d7d66d..26bf638c91 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/tools/adobe_webserver/app.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/tools/adobe_webserver/app.py
@@ -104,14 +104,11 @@ class WebServerTool:
             again. In that case, use existing running webserver.
             Check here is easier than capturing exception from thread.
         """
-        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-        result = True
-        try:
-            sock.bind((host_name, port))
-            result = False
-        except:
-            print("Port is in use")
+        with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) as con:
+            result = con.connect_ex((host_name, port)) == 0
 
+        if result:
+            print(f"Port {port} is already in use")
         return result
 
     def call(self, func):