diff --git a/template/gitlab-runner.tftpl b/template/gitlab-runner.tftpl
index ad5da803..579ccf7a 100644
--- a/template/gitlab-runner.tftpl
+++ b/template/gitlab-runner.tftpl
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ then
     # fetch gitlab token from SSM
     gitlab_token=$(aws ssm get-parameter --name "${secure_parameter_store_gitlab_token_name}" --with-decryption --region "${secure_parameter_store_region}" | jq -r ".Parameter | .Value")
 
-    token=$(curl ${curl_cacert} --request POST -L "${runners_gitlab_url}/api/v4/user/runners" \
+    response = $(curl ${curl_cacert} --request POST -L "${runners_gitlab_url}/api/v4/user/runners" \
       --header "private-token: $gitlab_token" \
       --form "tag_list=${gitlab_runner_tag_list}" \
       --form "description=${gitlab_runner_description}" \
@@ -58,8 +58,16 @@ then
       --form "maximum_timeout=${gitlab_runner_maximum_timeout}" \
       --form "runner_type=${gitlab_runner_type}_type" \
       $runner_type_param \
-      --form "access_level=${gitlab_runner_access_level}" \
-      | jq -r '.token')
+      --form "access_level=${gitlab_runner_access_level}")
+
+    token = $(echo response | jq -r '.token')
+    if [[ "$token" == null ]]
+        message = $(echo response | jq -r '.message // .error_description')
+        if [[ "$message" != null ]]
+            echo "ERROR: Couldn't register the Runner. GitLab API call returned $message".
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    fi
   else
     gitlab_runner_registration_token=${gitlab_runner_registration_token}