diff --git a/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb b/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb
index 444b4cf0..ec066003 100644
--- a/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb
+++ b/lib/fbe/github_graph.rb
@@ -667,7 +667,12 @@ def client
     @client ||=
       begin
         http = HTTP.new(@token, @host)
-        schema = GraphQL::Client.load_schema(http)
+        dump = GraphQL::Client.dump_schema(http)
+        if dump['data'].nil?
+          errors = (dump['errors'] || []).map { |e| e['message'] }
+          raise(Fbe::Error, "Can't load the GraphQL schema from #{@host}: #{errors.empty? ? dump : errors.join('; ')}")
+        end
+        schema = GraphQL::Client.load_schema(dump)
         c = GraphQL::Client.new(schema:, execute: http)
         c.allow_dynamic_queries = true
         c
diff --git a/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb b/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb
index 62a2c570..6930b3f2 100644
--- a/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb
+++ b/test/fbe/test_github_graph.rb
@@ -1058,4 +1058,16 @@ def test_fake_total_releases_published_dont_count_after_till
     h = graph.total_releases_published(owner, name, since, till: since + 60)
     assert_equal(1, h['releases'], "the fake counts releases published after the till moment, seed: #{seed}")
   end
+
+  def test_explains_failed_schema_load
+    WebMock.disallow_net_connect!
+    stub_request(:post, 'https://api.github.com/graphql').to_return(
+      { status: 401, body: '{"message":"Bad credentials"}' },
+      { status: 200, body: '{"errors":[{"message":"API rate limit exceeded"}]}' }
+    )
+    e = assert_raises(Fbe::Error) { Fbe::Graph.new(token: 'x').total_issues_and_pulls('a', 'b') }
+    assert_includes(e.message, '401', 'The HTTP status must be reported')
+    e = assert_raises(Fbe::Error) { Fbe::Graph.new(token: 'x').total_issues_and_pulls('a', 'b') }
+    assert_includes(e.message, 'API rate limit exceeded', 'The message from GitHub must be reported')
+  end
 end