diff --git a/api4jenkins/__init__.py b/api4jenkins/__init__.py
index 80fe55b..44a7a57 100644
--- a/api4jenkins/__init__.py
+++ b/api4jenkins/__init__.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def exists(self):
         :returns: True or False
         '''
         try:
-            self.handle_req('GET', '')
+            self._request('HEAD', self.url)
             return True
         except Exception as e:
             return isinstance(e, (AuthenticationError, PermissionError))
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ def _resolve_name(self, full_name):
 
     async def exists(self):
         try:
-            await self.handle_req('GET', '')
+            await self._request('HEAD', self.url)
             return True
         except Exception as e:
             return isinstance(e, (AuthenticationError, PermissionError))
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_jenkins.py b/tests/unit/test_jenkins.py
index 4119b7f..d1dc418 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_jenkins.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_jenkins.py
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import weakref
 
 import pytest
+
 from api4jenkins import Jenkins
 from api4jenkins.exceptions import BadRequestError, ItemNotFoundError
 from api4jenkins.item import new_item, snake
-from api4jenkins.job import AsyncFolder, AsyncWorkflowJob, WorkflowJob, Folder
+from api4jenkins.job import AsyncFolder, AsyncWorkflowJob, Folder, WorkflowJob
 
 
 class TestJenkins:
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ def test__name2url(self, jenkins, name, url_entry):
     @pytest.mark.parametrize('status, exist', [(403, True), (200, True),
                                                (404, False), (500, False)])
     def test_exists(self, jenkins, respx_mock, status, exist):
-        respx_mock.get(jenkins.url).respond(status)
+        respx_mock.head(jenkins.url).respond(status)
         assert jenkins.exists() == exist
 
     def test_iter_jobs(self, jenkins):
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ async def test__name2url(self, async_jenkins, name, url_entry):
     @pytest.mark.parametrize('status, exist', [(403, True), (200, True),
                                                (404, False), (500, False)])
     async def test_exists(self, async_jenkins, respx_mock, status, exist):
-        respx_mock.get(async_jenkins.url).respond(status)
+        respx_mock.head(async_jenkins.url).respond(status)
         assert await async_jenkins.exists() == exist
 
     async def test_iter_jobs(self, async_jenkins):