diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/useApi.js b/frontend/src/composables/useApi.js
index 06e3cba..ba10bb5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/useApi.js
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/useApi.js
@@ -24,7 +24,16 @@ async function request(path, opts = {}) {
 
 async function requestJSON(path, opts = {}) {
   const res = await request(path, opts)
-  if (!res.ok) throw res
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    let msg = `${res.status}`
+    try {
+      const body = await res.json()
+      msg = body.detail || body.message || msg
+    } catch {}
+    const err = new Error(msg)
+    err.status = res.status
+    throw err
+  }
   return res.json()
 }