diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py b/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py
index c1729bc458c..0680fab2410 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/galaxy.py
@@ -927,9 +927,6 @@ class GalaxyCLI(CLI):
 
             role_info = {'path': roles_path}
             gr = GalaxyRole(self.galaxy, self.api, role)
-            if not gr._exists:
-                data = u"- the role %s was not found" % role
-                break
 
             install_info = gr.install_info
             if install_info:
@@ -938,12 +935,24 @@ class GalaxyCLI(CLI):
                     del install_info['version']
                 role_info.update(install_info)
 
-            remote_data = False
             if not context.CLIARGS['offline']:
-                remote_data = self.api.lookup_role_by_name(role, False)
+                remote_data = None
+                try:
+                    remote_data = self.api.lookup_role_by_name(role, False)
+                except AnsibleError as e:
+                    if e.http_code == 400 and 'Bad Request' in e.message:
+                        # Role does not exist in Ansible Galaxy
+                        data = u"- the role %s was not found" % role
+                        break
+
+                    raise AnsibleError("Unable to find info about '%s': %s" % (role, e))
 
-            if remote_data:
-                role_info.update(remote_data)
+                if remote_data:
+                    role_info.update(remote_data)
+
+            elif context.CLIARGS['offline'] and not gr._exists:
+                data = u"- the role %s was not found" % role
+                break
 
             if gr.metadata:
                 role_info.update(gr.metadata)
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy/runme.sh
index d9d088154da..b7978b4e68f 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/ansible-galaxy/runme.sh
@@ -226,6 +226,18 @@ rm -fr "${role_testdir}"
 
 # Galaxy role info tests
 
+# Get info about role that is not installed
+
+f_ansible_galaxy_status "role info"
+galaxy_testdir=$(mktemp -d)
+pushd "${galaxy_testdir}"
+    ansible-galaxy role info samdoran.fish | tee out.txt
+
+    [[ $(grep -c 'not found' out.txt ) -eq 0 ]]
+    [[ $(grep -c 'Role:.*samdoran\.fish' out.txt ) -eq 1 ]]
+
+popd # ${galaxy_testdir}
+
 f_ansible_galaxy_status \
     "role info non-existant role"