diff --git a/openstackclient/identity/v3/group.py b/openstackclient/identity/v3/group.py
index 2afdabc171..b5f5d8ad88 100644
--- a/openstackclient/identity/v3/group.py
+++ b/openstackclient/identity/v3/group.py
@@ -102,12 +102,15 @@ class CheckUserInGroup(command.Command):
 
         try:
             identity_client.users.check_in_group(user_id, group_id)
-        except Exception:
-            msg = _("%(user)s not in group %(group)s\n") % {
-                'user': parsed_args.user,
-                'group': parsed_args.group,
-            }
-            sys.stderr.write(msg)
+        except ks_exc.http.HTTPClientError as e:
+            if e.http_status == 403 or e.http_status == 404:
+                msg = _("%(user)s not in group %(group)s\n") % {
+                    'user': parsed_args.user,
+                    'group': parsed_args.group,
+                }
+                sys.stderr.write(msg)
+            else:
+                raise e
         else:
             msg = _("%(user)s in group %(group)s\n") % {
                 'user': parsed_args.user,
diff --git a/openstackclient/tests/unit/identity/v3/test_group.py b/openstackclient/tests/unit/identity/v3/test_group.py
index 00bd217dad..5870e1dbc3 100644
--- a/openstackclient/tests/unit/identity/v3/test_group.py
+++ b/openstackclient/tests/unit/identity/v3/test_group.py
@@ -115,6 +115,23 @@ class TestGroupCheckUser(TestGroup):
             self.user.id, self.group.id)
         self.assertIsNone(result)
 
+    def test_group_check_user_server_error(self):
+        def server_error(*args):
+            raise ks_exc.http.InternalServerError
+        self.users_mock.check_in_group.side_effect = server_error
+        arglist = [
+            self.group.name,
+            self.user.name,
+        ]
+        verifylist = [
+            ('group', self.group.name),
+            ('user', self.user.name),
+        ]
+        parsed_args = self.check_parser(self.cmd, arglist, verifylist)
+
+        self.assertRaises(ks_exc.http.InternalServerError,
+                          self.cmd.take_action, parsed_args)
+
 
 class TestGroupCreate(TestGroup):
 
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1672634-ef754cb5109dd0f2.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1672634-ef754cb5109dd0f2.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..be874ab616
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1672634-ef754cb5109dd0f2.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Narrow acceptable negative response codes for ``group contains user``
+    [Bug `1672634 <https://bugs.launchpad.net/python-openstackclient/+bug/1672634>`_]