diff --git a/caveclient/chunkedgraph.py b/caveclient/chunkedgraph.py
index a7f3680e..154015f7 100644
--- a/caveclient/chunkedgraph.py
+++ b/caveclient/chunkedgraph.py
@@ -807,6 +807,8 @@ def level2_chunk_graph(self, root_id, bounds=None) -> list:
 
         url = self._endpoints["lvl2_graph"].format_map(endpoint_mapping)
         response = self.session.get(url, params=query_d)
+        
+        r = handle_response(response)
 
         used_bounds = response.headers.get("Used-Bounds")
         used_bounds = used_bounds == "true" or used_bounds == "True"
@@ -818,8 +820,6 @@ def level2_chunk_graph(self, root_id, bounds=None) -> list:
                 "your system administrator to update the chunkedgraph."
             )
             raise ValueError(warning)
-        
-        r = handle_response(response)
 
         return r["edge_graph"]