diff --git a/elasticsearch.go b/elasticsearch.go
index db204011c0..4168e4eb0e 100644
--- a/elasticsearch.go
+++ b/elasticsearch.go
@@ -302,9 +302,12 @@ func (c *Client) Perform(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
 
 	// Retrieve the original request.
 	res, err := c.Transport.Perform(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	// ResponseCheck path continues, we run the header check on the first answer from ES.
-	if err == nil && (res.StatusCode >= 200 && res.StatusCode < 300){
+	if res.StatusCode >= 200 && res.StatusCode < 300 {
 		checkHeader := func(context.Context) error {
 			return genuineCheckHeader(res.Header)
 		}
@@ -313,7 +316,7 @@ func (c *Client) Perform(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
-	return res, err
+	return res, nil
 }
 
 // doProductCheck calls f if there as not been a prior successful call to doProductCheck,