diff --git a/control/controlclient/direct.go b/control/controlclient/direct.go
index ac9b04474..435d3342f 100644
--- a/control/controlclient/direct.go
+++ b/control/controlclient/direct.go
@@ -387,6 +387,12 @@ func (c *Direct) doLogin(ctx context.Context, t *oauth2.Token, flags LoginFlags,
 	if err != nil {
 		return regen, url, fmt.Errorf("register request: %v", err)
 	}
+	if res.StatusCode != 200 {
+		msg, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(res.Body)
+		res.Body.Close()
+		return regen, url, fmt.Errorf("register request: http %d: %.200s",
+			res.StatusCode, strings.TrimSpace(string(msg)))
+	}
 	resp := tailcfg.RegisterResponse{}
 	if err := decode(res, &resp, &serverKey, &c.machinePrivKey); err != nil {
 		c.logf("error decoding RegisterResponse with server key %s and machine key %s: %v", serverKey, c.machinePrivKey.Public(), err)
@@ -546,7 +552,7 @@ func (c *Direct) PollNetMap(ctx context.Context, maxPolls int, cb func(*NetworkM
 	if res.StatusCode != 200 {
 		msg, _ := ioutil.ReadAll(res.Body)
 		res.Body.Close()
-		return fmt.Errorf("initial fetch failed %d: %s",
+		return fmt.Errorf("initial fetch failed %d: %.200s",
 			res.StatusCode, strings.TrimSpace(string(msg)))
 	}
 	defer res.Body.Close()
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index b62b7e781..5cab41069 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190404232315-eb5bcb51f2a3/go.mod h1:t9HGtf8HONx5eT2rtn
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190620200207-3b0461eec859/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190827160401-ba9fcec4b297/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190923162816-aa69164e4478/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
+golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20191003171128-d98b1b443823/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20191007182048-72f939374954/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20200202094626-16171245cfb2 h1:CCH4IOTTfewWjGOlSp+zGcjutRKlBEZQ6wTn8ozI/nI=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20200202094626-16171245cfb2/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLLGU+0bjPO0LkuOLi4/5GtJWs/s=
@@ -156,6 +157,7 @@ golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190411185658-b44545bcd369/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7w
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190412213103-97732733099d/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190826190057-c7b8b68b1456/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190924154521-2837fb4f24fe/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191003212358-c178f38b412c/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191008105621-543471e840be/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200202164722-d101bd2416d5 h1:LfCXLvNmTYH9kEmVgqbnsWfruoXZIrh4YBgqVHtDvw0=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200202164722-d101bd2416d5/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=