diff --git a/src/polartoolkit/fetch.py b/src/polartoolkit/fetch.py
index 49ee46ae..012a5da1 100644
--- a/src/polartoolkit/fetch.py
+++ b/src/polartoolkit/fetch.py
@@ -236,7 +236,15 @@ class EarthDataDownloader:
     """
 
     def __init__(self) -> None:
-        earthaccess.login()
+        auth = earthaccess.login()
+        auth = earthaccess.__auth__
+
+        if auth.authenticated is False:
+            msg = (
+                "EarthData login failed, please check your Username and Password are "
+                "correct"
+            )
+            raise ValueError(msg)
 
     def __call__(self, url: str, output_file: str, dataset: typing.Any) -> None:
         creds = earthaccess.auth_environ()