diff --git a/lib/cradle.js b/lib/cradle.js
index b21d5ef..5537c7e 100644
--- a/lib/cradle.js
+++ b/lib/cradle.js
@@ -217,20 +217,16 @@ cradle.Connection.prototype.request = function (options, callback) {
         else if (options.method === 'HEAD') {
             return callback(null, res.headers, res.statusCode);
         }
-        else if (body && body.error) {
-            cradle.extend(body, { headers: res.headers });
-            body.headers.status = res.statusCode;
-            return callback(new cradle.CouchError(body));
-        }
-      
-        try { body = JSON.parse(body) }
-        catch (err) { }
-      
-        if (body && body.error) {
-            cradle.extend(body, { headers: res.headers });
-            body.headers.status = res.statusCode;
-            return callback(new cradle.CouchError(body));
+        else if (body) {
+            try { body = JSON.parse(body); }
+            catch (error) { }
+            if (body.error) {
+                cradle.extend(body, { headers: res.headers });
+                body.headers.status = res.statusCode;
+                return callback(new cradle.CouchError(body));
+            }
         }
+            
       
         callback(null, self.options.raw ? body : new cradle.Response(body, res));
     });