diff --git a/internal/test/scorecard/common_utils.go b/internal/test/scorecard/common_utils.go
index 3a53bbfe3..65ece167f 100644
--- a/internal/test/scorecard/common_utils.go
+++ b/internal/test/scorecard/common_utils.go
@@ -357,12 +357,6 @@ func waitTillCryostatReady(base *url.URL, resources *TestResources) error {
 		}
 		defer resp.Body.Close()
 
-		health := &HealthResponse{}
-		err = ReadJSON(resp, health)
-		if err != nil {
-			return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to read response body: %s", err.Error())
-		}
-
 		if !StatusOK(resp.StatusCode) {
 			if resp.StatusCode == http.StatusServiceUnavailable {
 				r.Log += fmt.Sprintf("application is not yet reachable at %s\n", base.String())
@@ -371,6 +365,12 @@ func waitTillCryostatReady(base *url.URL, resources *TestResources) error {
 			return false, fmt.Errorf("API request failed with status code %d: %s", resp.StatusCode, ReadError(resp))
 		}
 
+		health := &HealthResponse{}
+		err = ReadJSON(resp, health)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("failed to read response body: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+
 		if err = health.Ready(); err != nil {
 			r.Log += fmt.Sprintf("application is not yet ready: %s\n", err.Error())
 			return false, nil // Try again