diff --git a/tests/api.py b/tests/api.py
index 5b4ea7b..3bc8e4b 100644
--- a/tests/api.py
+++ b/tests/api.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import unittest
 from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
 from yeti.api import YetiApi
+from yeti import errors
+
+import requests
 
 
 class TestYetiApi(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -259,6 +262,23 @@ def test_search_graph(self, mock_post):
             },
         )
 
+    @patch("yeti.api.requests.Session.post")
+    def test_error_message(self, mock_post):
+        # create mock requests response that raises an requests.exceptions.HTTPError for status
+        mock_response = MagicMock()
+        mock_exception_with_status_code = requests.exceptions.HTTPError()
+        mock_exception_with_status_code.response = MagicMock()
+        mock_exception_with_status_code.response.status_code = 400
+        mock_exception_with_status_code.response.text = "error_message"
+        mock_response.raise_for_status.side_effect = mock_exception_with_status_code
+        mock_post.return_value = mock_response
+
+        with self.assertRaises(errors.YetiApiError) as raised:
+            self.api.new_indicator({"name": "test_indicator"})
+
+        self.assertEqual(str(raised.exception), "error_message")
+        self.assertEqual(raised.exception.status_code, 400)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/yeti/api.py b/yeti/api.py
index b2f1a72..0cc64b4 100644
--- a/yeti/api.py
+++ b/yeti/api.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 """Python client for the Yeti API."""
 
-import requests
-import requests_toolbelt.multipart.encoder as encoder
-
 import json
 from typing import Any, Sequence
 
+import yeti.errors as errors
+import requests
+import requests_toolbelt.multipart.encoder as encoder
 
 TYPE_TO_ENDPOINT = {
     "indicator": "/api/v2/indicators",
@@ -73,14 +73,19 @@ def do_request(
         if body:
             request_kwargs["body"] = body
 
-        if method == "POST":
-            response = self.client.post(url, **request_kwargs)
-        elif method == "PATCH":
-            response = self.client.patch(url, **request_kwargs)
-        elif method == "GET":
-            response = self.client.get(url, **request_kwargs)
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(f"Unsupported method: {method}")
+        try:
+            if method == "POST":
+                response = self.client.post(url, **request_kwargs)
+            elif method == "PATCH":
+                response = self.client.patch(url, **request_kwargs)
+            elif method == "GET":
+                response = self.client.get(url, **request_kwargs)
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(f"Unsupported method: {method}")
+            response.raise_for_status()
+        except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
+            raise errors.YetiApiError(e.response.status_code, e.response.text)
+
         return response.bytes
 
     def auth_api_key(self, apikey: str) -> None:
diff --git a/yeti/errors.py b/yeti/errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e09c86a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yeti/errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+class YetiApiError(RuntimeError):
+    """Base class for errors in the Yeti API."""
+
+    status_code: int
+    message: str
+
+    def __init__(self, status_code: int, message: str):
+        super().__init__(message)
+        self.status_code = status_code