diff --git a/docs/installer.py b/docs/installer.py
index d65383869..4ef41c631 100644
--- a/docs/installer.py
+++ b/docs/installer.py
@@ -72,7 +72,10 @@ class Reporter:  # {{{
 def get_latest_release_data():
     print('Checking for latest release on GitHub...')
     req = urllib.Request('https://api.github.com/repos/kovidgoyal/kitty/releases/latest', headers={'Accept': 'application/vnd.github.v3+json'})
-    res = urllib.urlopen(req).read().decode('utf-8')
+    try:
+        res = urllib.urlopen(req).read().decode('utf-8')
+    except Exception as err:
+        raise SystemExit('Failed to contact {} with error: {}'.format(req.get_full_url(), err))
     data = json.loads(res)
     html_url = data['html_url'].replace('/tag/', '/download/').rstrip('/')
     for asset in data.get('assets', ()):