diff --git a/crates/mem-llm/src/embeddings.rs b/crates/mem-llm/src/embeddings.rs
index 932e4a2..1883bd1 100644
--- a/crates/mem-llm/src/embeddings.rs
+++ b/crates/mem-llm/src/embeddings.rs
@@ -166,8 +166,18 @@ impl EmbeddingsClient {
         }
 
         let resp = builder.json(&req).send().await?;
-        let _status = resp.status();
-        let body: EmbeddingResponse = resp.json().await?;
+        let status = resp.status();
+        let raw_body = resp.text().await?;
+        
+        if !status.is_success() {
+            tracing::error!("Embedding API returned {}: {}", status, &raw_body[..raw_body.len().min(500)]);
+            return Err(anyhow!("Embedding API returned {}: {}", status, &raw_body[..raw_body.len().min(200)]));
+        }
+        
+        let body: EmbeddingResponse = serde_json::from_str(&raw_body).map_err(|e| {
+            tracing::error!("Failed to parse embedding response: {}. Raw body: {}", e, &raw_body[..raw_body.len().min(500)]);
+            anyhow!("Failed to parse embedding response: {}. Raw: {}", e, &raw_body[..raw_body.len().min(200)])
+        })?;
 
         match body {
             EmbeddingResponse::Error { error } => {