diff --git a/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py b/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py
index 712ab49de..bd63f056a 100644
--- a/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py
+++ b/infrastructure/abri/abri_client.py
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 
 import requests
 
-from domain.abri.models import JobLogged, LogJobRequest, LogJobResult
+from domain.abri.models import (
+    AbriRequestRejected,
+    JobLogged,
+    LogJobRequest,
+    LogJobResult,
+)
 from infrastructure.abri.config import AbriConfig
 from infrastructure.abri.envelope import serialise_relay_request
 
@@ -36,6 +41,8 @@ class AbriClient:
         )
         response = self._session.post(self._config.endpoint_url, data=body)
         root = ET.fromstring(response.content)
+        if root.tag == "response":
+            return self._parse_rejection(root)
         job_logged = root.find("Jobs/Job_logged")
         if job_logged is None:
             raise ValueError("Job_logged element missing from relay response")
@@ -43,3 +50,12 @@ class AbriClient:
             job_no=job_logged.attrib["job_no"],
             logged_info=job_logged.attrib["logged_info"],
         )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _parse_rejection(root: ET.Element) -> AbriRequestRejected:
+        success = root.findtext("success")
+        code = root.findtext("code")
+        message = root.findtext("message")
+        if success != "false" or code is None or message is None:
+            raise ValueError("malformed relay failure response")
+        return AbriRequestRejected(code=code, message=message)