diff --git a/pkg/cmd/api/api.go b/pkg/cmd/api/api.go
index 6bfaa21092a..9c9985cb55a 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/api/api.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/api/api.go
@@ -314,7 +314,8 @@ func apiRun(opts *ApiOptions) error {
 		var endCursor string
 		isJSON, endCursor, serverError, err = processResponse(resp, opts, headersOutputStream, buffer)
 		if err != nil {
-			printResponse(buffer, opts, isJSON, serverError != "", opts.IO.Out, &template)
+			// Print the server error message before exiting
+			_ = printResponse(buffer, opts, isJSON, serverError != "", opts.IO.Out, &template)
 			return err
 		}