diff --git a/edmond/plugins/taxref.py b/edmond/plugins/taxref.py
index e1d10ca..5848676 100644
--- a/edmond/plugins/taxref.py
+++ b/edmond/plugins/taxref.py
@@ -73,7 +73,12 @@ class TaxrefPlugin(Plugin):
         if response.status_code != 200:
             self.signal_failure(target)
             return
-        data = response.json()
+        try:
+            data = response.json()
+        except ValueError:
+            self.signal_failure(target)
+            return
+
         items = data.get("_embedded", {}).get("taxa", [])
 
         if not items:
@@ -195,7 +200,11 @@ class TaxrefPlugin(Plugin):
         if response.status_code != 200:
             self.signal_failure(target)
             return
-        data = response.json()
+        try:
+            data = response.json()
+        except ValueError:
+            self.signal_failure(target)
+            return
         items = data.get("_embedded", {}).get("taxa", [])
 
         if not items: