diff --git a/custom_components/zammad/__init__.py b/custom_components/zammad/__init__.py
index bc4c8a2..0182eb0 100644
--- a/custom_components/zammad/__init__.py
+++ b/custom_components/zammad/__init__.py
@@ -9,15 +9,18 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
-from urllib.error import HTTPError
+import json
+from requests.exceptions import HTTPError
 from zammad_py import ZammadAPI
 
 from .const import (
     DOMAIN,
     PLATFORMS,
     STARTUP_MESSAGE,
+    HUMAN_ERR_MSG_FIELD,
 )
 from .coordinator import ZammadUpdateCoordinator
+from .utils import get_url_from_options
 
 _LOGGER: logging.Logger = logging.getLogger(__package__)
 
@@ -28,7 +31,7 @@ async def async_setup_entry(hass: HomeAssistant, entry: ConfigEntry):
         hass.data.setdefault(DOMAIN, {})
         _LOGGER.info(STARTUP_MESSAGE)
 
-    url = entry.data.get(CONF_URL)
+    url = get_url_from_options(entry.data.get(CONF_URL))
     username = entry.data.get(CONF_USERNAME)
     password = entry.data.get(CONF_PASSWORD)
 
@@ -36,7 +39,8 @@ async def async_setup_entry(hass: HomeAssistant, entry: ConfigEntry):
         client = ZammadAPI(url=url, username=username, password=password)
         await hass.async_add_executor_job(client.user.me)
     except HTTPError as exc:
-        raise ConfigEntryAuthFailed("Credentials expired!") from exception
+        error_json = json.loads(exc.args[0])
+        raise ConfigEntryAuthFailed(error_json[HUMAN_ERR_MSG_FIELD])
     except ClientConnectorError as exception:
         raise ConfigEntryNotReady from exception
 
diff --git a/custom_components/zammad/config_flow.py b/custom_components/zammad/config_flow.py
index 51691ca..ae1003c 100644
--- a/custom_components/zammad/config_flow.py
+++ b/custom_components/zammad/config_flow.py
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 import logging
 from typing import Any, Mapping, Optional
 import voluptuous as vol
-from urllib.error import HTTPError
+from requests.exceptions import HTTPError
 from zammad_py import ZammadAPI
 
 from .const import DOMAIN
+from .utils import get_url_from_options
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -36,8 +37,12 @@ async def _check_creds_input(
         self, user_input: Mapping[str, Any]
     ) -> Optional[dict[str, str]]:
         """Check to see if provided creds are accepted by Zammad"""
+        if not user_input[CONF_URL].startswith("http"):
+            _LOGGER.error(f"Invalid url missing protocol: {user_input[CONF_URL]}")
+            return {"base": "invalid_url_protocol"}
+
         try:
-            url = user_input[CONF_URL]
+            url = get_url_from_options(user_input[CONF_URL])
             username = user_input[CONF_USERNAME]
             password = user_input[CONF_PASSWORD]
 
diff --git a/custom_components/zammad/const.py b/custom_components/zammad/const.py
index 5ce9fb9..fca36b8 100644
--- a/custom_components/zammad/const.py
+++ b/custom_components/zammad/const.py
@@ -9,3 +9,7 @@
 
 STARTUP_MESSAGE = f"Starting setup for {DOMAIN}"
 INITIAL_USER_ID = -1
+
+API_URL_PATH = "/api/v1"
+
+HUMAN_ERR_MSG_FIELD = "error_human"
diff --git a/custom_components/zammad/strings.json b/custom_components/zammad/strings.json
index cde09b6..85aae6e 100644
--- a/custom_components/zammad/strings.json
+++ b/custom_components/zammad/strings.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
         "title": "Configure Zammad",
         "description": "Enter your Zammad credentials",
         "data": {
-          "url": "URL (include /api/v1)",
+          "url": "URL",
           "username": "Email",
           "password": "Password"
         }
@@ -14,14 +14,15 @@
         "title": "Configure Zammad",
         "description": "Enter your Zammad credentials",
         "data": {
-          "url": "URL (include /api/v1)",
+          "url": "URL",
           "username": "Email/Username",
           "password": "Password"
         }
       }
     },
     "error": {
-      "invalid_auth": "Auth Failed"
+      "invalid_auth": "Auth Failed",
+      "invalid_url_protocol": "URL must include http/https"
     },
     "abort": {
       "already_configured": "Already Configured Account",
diff --git a/custom_components/zammad/translations/en.json b/custom_components/zammad/translations/en.json
index cde09b6..85aae6e 100644
--- a/custom_components/zammad/translations/en.json
+++ b/custom_components/zammad/translations/en.json
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
         "title": "Configure Zammad",
         "description": "Enter your Zammad credentials",
         "data": {
-          "url": "URL (include /api/v1)",
+          "url": "URL",
           "username": "Email",
           "password": "Password"
         }
@@ -14,14 +14,15 @@
         "title": "Configure Zammad",
         "description": "Enter your Zammad credentials",
         "data": {
-          "url": "URL (include /api/v1)",
+          "url": "URL",
           "username": "Email/Username",
           "password": "Password"
         }
       }
     },
     "error": {
-      "invalid_auth": "Auth Failed"
+      "invalid_auth": "Auth Failed",
+      "invalid_url_protocol": "URL must include http/https"
     },
     "abort": {
       "already_configured": "Already Configured Account",
diff --git a/custom_components/zammad/utils.py b/custom_components/zammad/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1897336
--- /dev/null
+++ b/custom_components/zammad/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from .const import API_URL_PATH
+
+
+def get_url_from_options(url: str) -> str:
+    if url.endswith(API_URL_PATH):
+        return url
+    else:
+        return url + API_URL_PATH