diff --git a/cli/tests/integrations/test_marathon.py b/cli/tests/integrations/test_marathon.py
index 788f537..880296b 100644
--- a/cli/tests/integrations/test_marathon.py
+++ b/cli/tests/integrations/test_marathon.py
@@ -361,6 +361,16 @@ def test_update_bad_type():
         assert stdout == b''
 
 
+def test_update_invalid_request():
+    returncode, stdout, stderr = exec_command(
+        ['dcos', 'marathon', 'app', 'update', '{', 'instances'])
+    assert returncode == 1
+    assert stdout == b''
+    stderr = stderr.decode()
+    assert stderr.startswith('Error while fetching')
+    assert stderr.endswith('HTTP 400: Bad Request\n')
+
+
 def test_update_app():
     with _zero_instance_app():
         returncode, stdout, stderr = exec_command(
diff --git a/dcos/marathon.py b/dcos/marathon.py
index 6769de3..f0888a4 100644
--- a/dcos/marathon.py
+++ b/dcos/marathon.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ def _to_exception(response):
     if isinstance(response, Exception):
         return DCOSException(_default_marathon_error(str(response)))
 
+    if response.status_code == 400:
+        return DCOSException(
+            'Error while fetching [{0}]: HTTP {1}: {2}'.format(
+                response.request.url, response.status_code, response.reason))
+
     message = response.json().get('message')
     if message is None:
         errs = response.json().get('errors')