diff --git a/client/internal/api/client.go b/client/internal/api/client.go
index 38972c6..e6e0eee 100644
--- a/client/internal/api/client.go
+++ b/client/internal/api/client.go
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ func (c *Client) checkEngineVersion() {
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
 
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		return // auth error or other issue — let the actual request surface it
+	}
+
 	var status struct {
 		Version string `json:"version"`
 	}