diff --git a/lib/pure/httpclient.nim b/lib/pure/httpclient.nim
index 129ce4e77d..0083d816c0 100644
--- a/lib/pure/httpclient.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/httpclient.nim
@@ -1155,15 +1155,15 @@ proc downloadFile*(client: HttpClient, url: string, filename: string) =
     client.getBody = true
   let resp = client.get(url)
 
+  if resp.code.is4xx or resp.code.is5xx:
+    raise newException(HttpRequestError, resp.status)
+
   client.bodyStream = newFileStream(filename, fmWrite)
   if client.bodyStream.isNil:
     fileError("Unable to open file")
   parseBody(client, resp.headers, resp.version)
   client.bodyStream.close()
 
-  if resp.code.is4xx or resp.code.is5xx:
-    raise newException(HttpRequestError, resp.status)
-
 proc downloadFile*(client: AsyncHttpClient, url: string,
                    filename: string): Future[void] =
   proc downloadFileEx(client: AsyncHttpClient,