diff --git a/dds_cli/data_getter.py b/dds_cli/data_getter.py
index 4dd80c1c..78af7c37 100644
--- a/dds_cli/data_getter.py
+++ b/dds_cli/data_getter.py
@@ -221,15 +221,20 @@ def update_db(self, file):
         params = {"project": self.project}
 
         # Send file info to API
-        response_json, _ = dds_cli.utils.perform_request(
-            DDSEndpoint.FILE_UPDATE,
-            method="put",
-            params=params,
-            json=filename,
-            headers=self.token,
-            error_message="Failed to update file information",
-        )
-
-        updated_in_db, message = (True, response_json["message"])
+        try:
+            response_json, _ = dds_cli.utils.perform_request(
+                DDSEndpoint.FILE_UPDATE,
+                method="put",
+                params=params,
+                json=filename,
+                headers=self.token,
+                error_message="Failed to update file information",
+            )
+        except dds_cli.exceptions.ApiRequestError as err:
+            updated_in_db = False
+            message = str(err)
+        else:
+            updated_in_db = True
+            message = response_json["message"]
 
         return updated_in_db, message
diff --git a/dds_cli/utils.py b/dds_cli/utils.py
index 1b004537..5a7ed90a 100644
--- a/dds_cli/utils.py
+++ b/dds_cli/utils.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import typing
 import http
 from typing import Dict, List, Union
+import logging 
 
 import requests
 import rich.console
@@ -201,11 +202,11 @@ def transform_paths(json_input):
         )
     except requests.exceptions.RequestException as err:
         if isinstance(err, requests.exceptions.ConnectionError):
-            error_message += ": The database seems to be down."
+            error_message += f": The database seems to be down -- \n{err}"
         elif isinstance(err, requests.exceptions.Timeout):
             error_message += ": The request timed out."
         else:
-            error_message += f": Unknown request error -- \n {err}"
+            error_message += f": Unknown request error -- \n{err}"
         raise dds_cli.exceptions.ApiRequestError(message=error_message)
 
     # Get and parse project specific errors