diff --git a/lualib/http/httpc.lua b/lualib/http/httpc.lua
index e3a63070..78cab15e 100644
--- a/lualib/http/httpc.lua
+++ b/lualib/http/httpc.lua
@@ -114,10 +114,8 @@ function httpc.request(method, hostname, url, recvheader, header, content)
 	close_interface(interface, fd)
 	if ok then
 		return statuscode, body
-	elseif statuscode == 200 then
-		error(body)
 	else
-		error(statuscode)
+		error(body or statuscode)
 	end
 end