diff --git a/extension/java-client-operate/src/main/java/io/camunda/operate/auth/SimpleAuthentication.java b/extension/java-client-operate/src/main/java/io/camunda/operate/auth/SimpleAuthentication.java
index 39c30c5..634ecc5 100644
--- a/extension/java-client-operate/src/main/java/io/camunda/operate/auth/SimpleAuthentication.java
+++ b/extension/java-client-operate/src/main/java/io/camunda/operate/auth/SimpleAuthentication.java
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ private SimpleAuthToken retrieveToken() {
           client.execute(
               request,
               response -> {
+                if (response.getCode() > 299) {
+                  throw new RuntimeException(
+                      "Unable to login, response code " + response.getCode());
+                }
                 String csrfTokenCandidate = null;
                 Header csrfTokenHeader = response.getHeader(CSRF_HEADER);
                 if (csrfTokenHeader != null) {