diff --git a/memberPlumbing/hid/DoorController.py b/memberPlumbing/hid/DoorController.py
index 5483bab..d81c036 100644
--- a/memberPlumbing/hid/DoorController.py
+++ b/memberPlumbing/hid/DoorController.py
@@ -124,9 +124,13 @@ class DoorController:
             params={"XML": prefix + xml},
             auth=requests.auth.HTTPDigestAuth(self.username, self.password),
         )
-        resp_xml = etree.XML(r.content)
+
+        if r.status_code != 200:
+            raise RemoteError(r)
+
         # probably meed to be more sane about this
-        if r.status_code != 200 or len(resp_xml.findall("{*}Error")) > 0:
+        resp_xml = etree.XML(r.content)
+        if len(resp_xml.findall("{*}Error")) > 0:
             raise RemoteError(r)
         return resp_xml