diff --git a/funkwlplay.py b/funkwlplay.py
index b00bff3..5332974 100755
--- a/funkwlplay.py
+++ b/funkwlplay.py
@@ -76,9 +76,12 @@ def filter_tracks(tracks):
 
 
 def search_tracks_on_instance(instance, tag='', query='', recursion=args.recursion):
-    tracks = requests.get(f'https://{instance}/api/v1/tracks', params={'tag': tag, 'q': query,
+    r = requests.get(f'https://{instance}/api/v1/tracks', params={'tag': tag, 'q': query,
                                                                        'local': True, 'playable': True,
-                                                                       'ordering': 'random'}, timeout=10).json()
+                                                                       'ordering': 'random'}, timeout=10)
+    r.raise_for_status()
+    tracks = r.json()
+
     count = tracks['count']
     print(f'found {count} tracks on {instance}')
     if recursion == 1: