diff --git a/hud/agents/claude.py b/hud/agents/claude.py
index 0489fe29..9532f1b8 100644
--- a/hud/agents/claude.py
+++ b/hud/agents/claude.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 
 import copy
 import logging
+import requests
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, ClassVar, cast
 
-from anthropic import AsyncAnthropic, BadRequestError
+from anthropic import AsyncAnthropic, BadRequestError, AuthenticationError
 from anthropic.types.beta import BetaContentBlockParam, BetaImageBlockParam, BetaTextBlockParam
 
 import hud
@@ -209,6 +210,8 @@ async def get_response(self, messages: list[BetaMessageParam]) -> AgentResponse:
                         raise
                 else:
                     raise
+            except AuthenticationError:
+                raise ValueError("Anthropic API key is set but is not valid.")
 
         messages.append(
             cast(
diff --git a/hud/agents/openai.py b/hud/agents/openai.py
index 9eb0df1a..29deabfa 100644
--- a/hud/agents/openai.py
+++ b/hud/agents/openai.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
+import requests
 from typing import Any, ClassVar, Literal
 
 import mcp.types as types
-from openai import AsyncOpenAI
+from openai import AsyncOpenAI, AuthenticationError
 from openai.types.responses import (
     ResponseComputerToolCall,
     ResponseInputMessageContentListParam,
@@ -175,14 +176,17 @@ async def get_response(self, messages: ResponseInputMessageContentListParam) ->
 
             input_param: ResponseInputParam = [{"role": "user", "content": input_content}]  # type: ignore[reportUnknownMemberType]
 
-            response = await self.openai_client.responses.create(
-                model=self.model,
-                tools=[computer_tool],
-                input=input_param,
-                instructions=self.system_prompt,
-                truncation="auto",
-                reasoning={"summary": "auto"},  # type: ignore[arg-type]
-            )
+            try:
+                response = await self.openai_client.responses.create(
+                    model=self.model,
+                    tools=[computer_tool],
+                    input=input_param,
+                    instructions=self.system_prompt,
+                    truncation="auto",
+                    reasoning={"summary": "auto"},  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+                )
+            except AuthenticationError:
+                raise ValueError("OpenAI API key is set but is not valid.")
         else:
             # Follow-up step - check if this is user input or tool result
             latest_message = messages[-1] if messages else {}