diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/lbry.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/lbry.py
index 4289c51b81..0f87bf1d7f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/lbry.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/lbry.py
@@ -28,14 +28,19 @@ class LBRYBaseIE(InfoExtractor):
     _SUPPORTED_STREAM_TYPES = ['video', 'audio']
 
     def _call_api_proxy(self, method, display_id, params, resource):
-        return self._download_json(
+        response = self._download_json(
             'https://api.lbry.tv/api/v1/proxy',
             display_id, 'Downloading %s JSON metadata' % resource,
             headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json-rpc'},
             data=json.dumps({
                 'method': method,
                 'params': params,
-            }).encode())['result']
+            }).encode())
+        err = response.get('error')
+        if err:
+            raise ExtractorError(
+                f'{self.IE_NAME} said: {err.get("code")} - {err.get("message")}', expected=True)
+        return response['result']
 
     def _resolve_url(self, url, display_id, resource):
         return self._call_api_proxy(