diff --git a/src/namecoin.py b/src/namecoin.py
index 381a04b0..2a94f1ce 100644
--- a/src/namecoin.py
+++ b/src/namecoin.py
@@ -245,18 +245,19 @@ class namecoinConnection(object):
                 "Authorization", "Basic %s" % base64.b64encode(authstr))
             self.con.endheaders()
             self.con.send(data)
-            try:
-                resp = self.con.getresponse()
-                result = resp.read()
-                if resp.status != 200:
-                    raise Exception(
-                        "Namecoin returned status"
-                        " %i: %s" % (resp.status, resp.reason))
-            except:  # noqa:E722
-                logger.info("HTTP receive error")
         except:  # noqa:E722
             logger.info("HTTP connection error")
 
+        try:
+            resp = self.con.getresponse()
+            result = resp.read()
+            if resp.status != 200:
+                raise Exception(
+                    "Namecoin returned status"
+                    " %i: %s" % (resp.status, resp.reason))
+        except:  # noqa:E722
+            logger.info("HTTP receive error")
+
         return result
 
     def queryServer(self, data):