diff --git a/ows/crates/ows-cli/src/commands/pay.rs b/ows/crates/ows-cli/src/commands/pay.rs
index f33509d2..1cfeb143 100644
--- a/ows/crates/ows-cli/src/commands/pay.rs
+++ b/ows/crates/ows-cli/src/commands/pay.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,13 @@ pub fn run(
 
     let result = rt.block_on(ows_pay::pay(&wallet, url, method, body))?;
 
-    if let Some(ref payment) = result.payment {
+    if result.status >= 400 {
+        if result.payment.is_some() {
+            eprintln!("HTTP {} — payment rejected by server", result.status);
+        } else {
+            eprintln!("HTTP {}", result.status);
+        }
+    } else if let Some(ref payment) = result.payment {
         if !payment.amount.is_empty() {
             eprintln!(
                 "Paid {} on {} via {}",
@@ -116,10 +122,6 @@ pub fn run(
         }
     }
 
-    if result.status >= 400 {
-        eprintln!("HTTP {}", result.status);
-    }
-
     println!("{}", result.body);
     Ok(())
 }