diff --git a/src/wrapper.spec.ts b/src/wrapper.spec.ts
index 8b5bb9c..4d84b3c 100644
--- a/src/wrapper.spec.ts
+++ b/src/wrapper.spec.ts
@@ -119,24 +119,45 @@ describe('RequestWrapper', function() {
         expect(requestArgument.httpsAgent).to.eql(agents.httpsAgent);
       });
 
-      it('should throw error when response code is 400 or above', async () => {
-        requestGetStub.restore();
-        nock('http://very.host.io:443')
-          .get('/purchases/1/content')
-          .reply(400, { replyText: 'Unknown route' });
+      context('error responses', () => {
+        it('should return JSON in EscherRequestError if response data is json parsable', async () => {
+          requestGetStub.restore();
+          nock('http://very.host.io:443')
+            .get('/purchases/1/content')
+            .reply(400, { replyText: 'Unknown route' }, { 'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8' });
 
-        try {
-          await wrapper.send();
-          throw new Error('Error should have been thrown');
-        } catch (err) {
-          const error = err as EscherRequestError;
-          expect(error).to.be.an.instanceof(EscherRequestError);
-          expect(error.message).to.eql('Error in http response (status: 400)');
-          expect(error.code).to.eql(400);
-          expect(error.data).to.eql(JSON.stringify({ replyText: 'Unknown route' }));
-        }
+          try {
+            await wrapper.send();
+            throw new Error('Error should have been thrown');
+          } catch (err) {
+            const error = err as EscherRequestError;
+            expect(error).to.be.an.instanceof(EscherRequestError);
+            expect(error.message).to.eql('Error in http response (status: 400)');
+            expect(error.code).to.eql(400);
+            expect(error.data).to.eql({ replyText: 'Unknown route' });
+          }
+        });
+
+        it('should return text and not fail parsing response data if wrong content-type headers are set', async () => {
+          requestGetStub.restore();
+          nock('http://very.host.io:443')
+            .get('/purchases/1/content')
+            .reply(500, 'Unexpected Error', { 'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8' });
+
+          try {
+            await wrapper.send();
+            throw new Error('Error should have been thrown');
+          } catch (err) {
+            const error = err as EscherRequestError;
+            expect(error).to.be.an.instanceof(EscherRequestError);
+            expect(error.message).to.eql('Error in http response (status: 500)');
+            expect(error.code).to.eql(500);
+            expect(error.data).to.eql('Unexpected Error');
+          }
+        });
       });
 
+
       describe('when empty response is allowed', function() {
         beforeEach(function() {
           extendedRequestOptions.allowEmptyResponse = true;
@@ -216,7 +237,7 @@ describe('RequestWrapper', function() {
             expect(error).to.be.an.instanceOf(EscherRequestError);
             expect(error.code).to.eql(404);
             expect(error.message).to.eql('Error in http response (status: 404)');
-            expect(error.data).to.eql(JSON.stringify({ replyText: '404 Not Found' }));
+            expect(error.data).to.eql({ replyText: '404 Not Found' });
           }
         });
       });
@@ -340,7 +361,7 @@ describe('RequestWrapper', function() {
         expect(error).to.be.an.instanceOf(EscherRequestError);
         expect(error.code).to.eql(404);
         expect(error.message).to.eql('Error in http response (status: 404)');
-        expect(error.data).to.eql(JSON.stringify({ replyText: '404 Not Found' }));
+        expect(error.data).to.eql({ replyText: '404 Not Found' });
       }
     });
 
diff --git a/src/wrapper.ts b/src/wrapper.ts
index b303e0c..159209c 100644
--- a/src/wrapper.ts
+++ b/src/wrapper.ts
@@ -109,10 +109,22 @@ export class RequestWrapper {
         code: error.response.status,
         reply_text: (error.response?.data || '')
       }));
+      let data = '';
+      if (error.response != null &&
+          this.isJsonResponse(error.response) &&
+            error.response.data != null &&
+            typeof error.response.data === 'string') {
+        try {
+          data = JSON.parse(error.response.data);
+        } catch (_) {
+          data = error.response.data;
+        }
+      }
+
       throw new EscherRequestError(
         'Error in http response (status: ' + error.response.status + ')',
         error.response.status,
-        (error.response?.data || '') as string
+        data
       );
     } else {
       if (!axios.isCancel(error)) {
@@ -142,7 +154,7 @@ export class RequestWrapper {
     };
   }
 
-  private isJsonResponse(response: TransformedResponse) {
+  private isJsonResponse<T extends TransformedResponse | AxiosResponse>(response: T) {
     return response.headers['content-type'] &&
       response.headers['content-type'].indexOf('application/json') !== -1;
   }