diff --git a/.changeset/fluffy-lamps-provide.md b/.changeset/fluffy-lamps-provide.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8bc10aa93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fluffy-lamps-provide.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'houdini': patch
+---
+
+Throw the semantic HTTP error code and message when receiving a non-JSON error response from the server
diff --git a/packages/houdini/src/runtime/client/plugins/fetch.ts b/packages/houdini/src/runtime/client/plugins/fetch.ts
index e1b92ab34..4809e1e94 100644
--- a/packages/houdini/src/runtime/client/plugins/fetch.ts
+++ b/packages/houdini/src/runtime/client/plugins/fetch.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,17 @@ const defaultFetch = (
 			},
 		})
 
+		// Avoid parsing the response if it's not JSON, as that will throw a SyntaxError
+		if (
+			!result.ok &&
+			result.headers.get('content-type') !== 'application/json' &&
+			result.headers.get('content-type') !== 'application/graphql+json'
+		) {
+			throw new Error(
+				`Failed to fetch: server returned invalid response with error ${result.status}: ${result.statusText}`
+			)
+		}
+
 		return await result.json()
 	}
 }