diff --git a/azimuth_schedule_operator/operator.py b/azimuth_schedule_operator/operator.py
index 82bac1a..83f25e6 100644
--- a/azimuth_schedule_operator/operator.py
+++ b/azimuth_schedule_operator/operator.py
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ async def create_blazar_lease(blazar_client, lease_name, lease):
             }
         )
     except httpx.HTTPStatusError as exc:
-        if exc.response.status_code == 400:
+        if exc.response.status_code in [400, 500]:
             try:
                 message = exc.response.json()["error_message"]
             except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError, KeyError):
diff --git a/azimuth_schedule_operator/tests/test_lease.py b/azimuth_schedule_operator/tests/test_lease.py
index 37422b0..68a2c66 100644
--- a/azimuth_schedule_operator/tests/test_lease.py
+++ b/azimuth_schedule_operator/tests/test_lease.py
@@ -309,6 +309,24 @@ async def test_create_blazar_lease_error_json_message(self):
         )
         blazar_client.resources["leases"].create.assert_awaited_once()
 
+    async def test_create_blazar_lease_error_json_message_500(self):
+        blazar_client = util.mock_openstack_client()
+        blazar_client.resources["leases"].create.side_effect = util.httpx_status_error(
+            500, json={"error_message": "this is an error from blazar 2"}
+        )
+
+        lease = lease_crd.Lease.model_validate(fake_lease())
+        with self.assertRaises(operator.BlazarLeaseCreateError) as ctx:
+            _ = await operator.create_blazar_lease(
+                blazar_client, f"az-{lease.metadata.name}", lease
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            str(ctx.exception),
+            "error creating blazar lease - this is an error from blazar 2",
+        )
+        blazar_client.resources["leases"].create.assert_awaited_once()
+
     async def test_create_blazar_lease_error_not_valid_json(self):
         blazar_client = util.mock_openstack_client()
         blazar_client.resources["leases"].create.side_effect = util.httpx_status_error(