diff --git a/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts b/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts
index 274c1b9e932..1213dde8f56 100644
--- a/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-core/src/db/couch/DatabaseImpl.ts
@@ -371,11 +371,21 @@ export class DatabaseImpl implements Database {
     return this.performCall(() => {
       return async () => {
         const response = await directCouchUrlCall(args)
-        const json = await response.json()
+        const text = await response.text()
         if (response.status > 300) {
+          let json
+          try {
+            json = JSON.parse(text)
+          } catch (err) {
+            console.error(`SQS error: ${text}`)
+            throw new CouchDBError(
+              "error while running SQS query, please try again later",
+              { name: "sqs_error", status: response.status }
+            )
+          }
           throw json
         }
-        return json as T
+        return JSON.parse(text) as T
       }
     })
   }