diff --git a/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py b/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py
index 99ef095e8..a0cedd5f7 100644
--- a/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py
+++ b/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+from typing import List, Tuple, Union
 
 import requests
 
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ class AbriClient:
         self._session = requests.Session()
 
     def log_job(self, request: LogJobRequest) -> LogJobResult:
-        body = serialise_relay_request(
+        outcome = self._exchange(
             request_type="logjob",
             parameters=[
                 ("place_ref", request.place_ref),
@@ -37,6 +38,23 @@ class AbriClient:
                 ("resource", self._config.default_resource),
                 ("resource_group", RESOURCE_GROUP),
             ],
+        )
+        if isinstance(outcome, AbriRequestRejected):
+            return outcome
+        return self._parse_job_logged(outcome)
+
+    def _exchange(
+        self, request_type: str, parameters: List[Tuple[str, str]]
+    ) -> Union[ET.Element, AbriRequestRejected]:
+        """Send one relay request; return the success root or the typed rejection.
+
+        Shared by all four relay request types: transport failures raise
+        AbriTransportError, ambiguous bodies raise AbriResponseParseError, and
+        only a well-formed <success>false</success> body becomes a rejection.
+        """
+        body = serialise_relay_request(
+            request_type=request_type,
+            parameters=parameters,
             username=self._config.username,
             password=self._config.password,
         )
@@ -51,6 +69,10 @@ class AbriClient:
             raise AbriResponseParseError(str(error)) from error
         if root.tag == "response":
             return self._parse_rejection(root)
+        return root
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _parse_job_logged(root: ET.Element) -> JobLogged:
         job_logged = root.find("Jobs/Job_logged")
         if job_logged is None:
             raise AbriResponseParseError(