diff --git a/commands/refresh_github_commits.go b/commands/refresh_github_commits.go
index 89a26a15f0..5aeac7b6b3 100644
--- a/commands/refresh_github_commits.go
+++ b/commands/refresh_github_commits.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package commands
 import (
 	"cocoon/db"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
@@ -40,6 +41,10 @@ func RefreshGithubCommits(cocoon *db.Cocoon, inputJSON []byte) (interface{}, err
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	if githubResp.StatusCode != 200 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GitHub API responded with a non-200 HTTP status: %v", githubResp.StatusCode)
+	}
+
 	defer githubResp.Body.Close()
 	commitData, err := ioutil.ReadAll(githubResp.Body)