diff --git a/mandrill.go b/mandrill.go
index 6845bcb..1716688 100644
--- a/mandrill.go
+++ b/mandrill.go
@@ -320,7 +320,10 @@ func (c *Client) sendApiRequest(data interface{}, path string) (body []byte, err
 
 	if resp.StatusCode >= 400 {
 		resError := &Error{}
-		err = json.Unmarshal(body, resError)
+		if err = json.Unmarshal(body, resError); err != nil {
+			return body, err
+		}
+
 		return body, resError
 	}
 
diff --git a/mandrill_test.go b/mandrill_test.go
index 109b9f6..594ccdf 100644
--- a/mandrill_test.go
+++ b/mandrill_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package mandrill
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
@@ -82,6 +83,18 @@ func Test_MessagesSendTemplate_Fail(t *testing.T) {
 	expect(t, reflect.DeepEqual(correctResponse, err), true)
 }
 
+func Test_MessagesSendTemplate_Fail_Invalid_JSON(t *testing.T) {
+	server, m := testTools(400, ``)
+	defer server.Close()
+	responses, err := m.MessagesSendTemplate(&Message{}, "cheese", map[string]string{"name": "bob"})
+
+	expect(t, len(responses), 0)
+
+	correctResponse := json.Unmarshal([]byte(` `), struct{}{})
+
+	expect(t, reflect.DeepEqual(correctResponse, err), true)
+}
+
 // MessagesSend //////////
 
 func Test_MessageSend_Success(t *testing.T) {