diff --git a/etherscan/client.py b/etherscan/client.py
index 08928ce..af06eaf 100644
--- a/etherscan/client.py
+++ b/etherscan/client.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import requests
-import json
 import collections
 
 #  Assume user puts his API key in the api_key.json file under variable name "key"
@@ -82,11 +81,17 @@ def connect(self):
         try:
             req = self.http.get(self.url)
         except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
-            return "Connection refused"
+            print("Connection refused")
+            exit()
+            
         if req.status_code == 200:
             # Check for empty response
             if req.text:
-                return json.loads(req.text)
+                if req.json()['status'] == '1':
+                    return req.json()
+                else:
+                    print(req.json()['message'])
+                    exit()
             else:
                 print("Invalid Request")
                 exit()