diff --git a/inema/wpint.py b/inema/wpint.py
index 9cfef27..01455c3 100644
--- a/inema/wpint.py
+++ b/inema/wpint.py
@@ -271,19 +271,24 @@ class WarenpostInt(object):
         order = self.build_order(items, contact_name=contact_name, order_status=order_status)
         _logger.info("Order Request: %s", order)
         r = self.request('POST', 'orders', json = order)
+        if r.ok:
         # TODO: figure out the AWB and the (item, barcode, voucherId, ...) for the items
-        json_resp = r.json()
-        #print(json.dumps(json_resp, indent=4))
-        _logger.info("Order Response: %s", json_resp)
-        # TODO: download the PDF for each AWB
-        return json_resp
+            json_resp = r.json()
+            #print(json.dumps(json_resp, indent=4))
+            _logger.info("Order Response: %s", json_resp)
+            # TODO: download the PDF for each AWB
+            return json_resp
+        else:
+            raise ValueError('%s: %s' % (r.status_code, r.text))
 
     def api_get_item_label(self, item_id, accept='application/pdf'):
         """Download the label for a given item.  Returns PDF as 'bytes'"""
         r = self.request('GET', 'items/%s/label' % item_id, headers={'Accept': accept})
+        r.raise_for_status()
         return r.content
 
     def api_get_item_labels(self, awb, accept='application/pdf'):
         """Download the labels for all items in a given AWB. Returns PDF as 'bytes'"""
         r = self.request('GET', 'shipments/%s/itemlabels' % awb, headers={'Accept': accept})
+        r.raise_for_status()
         return r.content