diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder/src/api.ts b/plugins/scaffolder/src/api.ts
index a603df5fc6..c7b1594071 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder/src/api.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder/src/api.ts
@@ -159,7 +159,9 @@ export class ScaffolderClient implements ScaffolderApi {
     });
 
     if (response.status !== 201) {
-      throw ResponseError.fromResponse(response);
+      const status = `${response.status} ${response.statusText}`;
+      const body = await response.text();
+      throw new Error(`Backend request failed, ${status} ${body.trim()}`);
     }
 
     const { id } = (await response.json()) as { id: string };