diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/QBittorrent/QBittorrentProxyV2.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/QBittorrent/QBittorrentProxyV2.cs
index cfa7c9934..d3a61f857 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/QBittorrent/QBittorrentProxyV2.cs
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/QBittorrent/QBittorrentProxyV2.cs
@@ -424,8 +424,8 @@ private void AuthenticateClient(HttpRequestBuilder requestBuilder, QBittorrentSe
                 }
                 catch (HttpException ex)
                 {
-                    _logger.Debug("qbitTorrent authentication failed.");
-                    if (ex.Response.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.Forbidden)
+                    _logger.Debug(ex, "qbitTorrent authentication failed.");
+                    if (ex.Response.StatusCode is HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized or HttpStatusCode.Forbidden)
                     {
                         throw new DownloadClientAuthenticationException("Failed to authenticate with qBittorrent.", ex);
                     }
@@ -437,9 +437,9 @@ private void AuthenticateClient(HttpRequestBuilder requestBuilder, QBittorrentSe
                     throw new DownloadClientUnavailableException("Failed to connect to qBittorrent, please check your settings.", ex);
                 }
 
-                if (response.Content != "Ok.")
+                // returns "Fails." on bad login
+                if (response.Content.IsNotNullOrWhiteSpace() && response.Content != "Ok.")
                 {
-                    // returns "Fails." on bad login
                     _logger.Debug("qbitTorrent authentication failed.");
                     throw new DownloadClientAuthenticationException("Failed to authenticate with qBittorrent.");
                 }