diff --git a/internal/worker/api/api.gen.go b/internal/worker/api/api.gen.go
index 5a315d34a..b2bebfcd0 100644
--- a/internal/worker/api/api.gen.go
+++ b/internal/worker/api/api.gen.go
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 )
 
+// Error defines model for Error.
+type Error struct {
+	Message string `json:"message"`
+}
+
 // RequestJobJSONBody defines parameters for RequestJob.
 type RequestJobJSONBody map[string]interface{}
 
diff --git a/internal/worker/api/openapi.yml b/internal/worker/api/openapi.yml
index 8f208fba5..e1b132c1f 100644
--- a/internal/worker/api/openapi.yml
+++ b/internal/worker/api/openapi.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,17 @@ paths:
                       - OK
                 required:
                   - status
+        4XX:
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
+        5XX:
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
       operationId: GetStatus
       description: Simple status handler to check whether the service is up.
   /jobs:
@@ -53,6 +64,17 @@ paths:
                   - manifest
                   - location
                   - id
+        4XX:
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
+        5XX:
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
       operationId: RequestJob
       requestBody:
         content:
@@ -85,6 +107,18 @@ paths:
                     type: boolean
                 required:
                   - canceled
+        4XX:
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
+        5XX:
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
       operationId: GetJob
       description: ''
     patch:
@@ -127,6 +161,17 @@ paths:
       responses:
         '200':
           description: OK
+        4XX:
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
+        5XX:
+          description: ''
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
       operationId: UploadJobArtifact
       requestBody:
         content:
@@ -134,4 +179,12 @@ paths:
             schema:
               type: string
 components:
-  schemas: {}
+  schemas:
+    Error:
+      title: Error
+      type: object
+      properties:
+        message:
+          type: string
+      required:
+        - message
diff --git a/internal/worker/client.go b/internal/worker/client.go
index 824ddaee7..8b6db3aed 100644
--- a/internal/worker/client.go
+++ b/internal/worker/client.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
 	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
@@ -94,9 +93,7 @@ func (c *Client) RequestJob() (Job, error) {
 	defer response.Body.Close()
 
 	if response.StatusCode != http.StatusCreated {
-		var er errorResponse
-		_ = json.NewDecoder(response.Body).Decode(&er)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("couldn't create job, got %d: %s", response.StatusCode, er.Message)
+		return nil, errorFromResponse(response, "error requesting job")
 	}
 
 	var jr requestJobResponse
@@ -157,7 +154,7 @@ func (j *job) Update(status common.ImageBuildState, result *osbuild.Result) erro
 	defer response.Body.Close()
 
 	if response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		return errors.New("error setting job status")
+		return errorFromResponse(response, "error setting job status")
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -171,7 +168,7 @@ func (j *job) Canceled() (bool, error) {
 	defer response.Body.Close()
 
 	if response.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("unexpected return value: %v", response.StatusCode)
+		return false, errorFromResponse(response, "error fetching job info")
 	}
 
 	var jr getJobResponse
@@ -205,10 +202,26 @@ func (j *job) UploadArtifact(name string, reader io.Reader) error {
 
 	req.Header.Add("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
 
-	_, err = j.requester.Do(req)
+	response, err := j.requester.Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error uploading artifcat: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("error uploading artifact: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if response.StatusCode != 200 {
+		return errorFromResponse(response, "error uploading artifact")
 	}
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// Parses an api.Error from a response and returns it as a golang error. Other
+// errors, such failing to parse the response, are returned as golang error as
+// well. If client code expects an error, it gets one.
+func errorFromResponse(response *http.Response, message string) error {
+	var e api.Error
+	err := json.NewDecoder(response.Body).Decode(&e)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to parse error response: %v", err)
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("%v: %v — %v", message, response.StatusCode, e.Message)
+}
diff --git a/internal/worker/json.go b/internal/worker/json.go
index 5e50feb22..60f95fc5c 100644
--- a/internal/worker/json.go
+++ b/internal/worker/json.go
@@ -29,10 +29,6 @@ type statusResponse struct {
 	Status string `json:"status"`
 }
 
-type errorResponse struct {
-	Message string `json:"message"`
-}
-
 type requestJobResponse struct {
 	Id               uuid.UUID        `json:"id"`
 	Manifest         distro.Manifest  `json:"manifest"`