diff --git a/assemblyline_service_client/task_handler.py b/assemblyline_service_client/task_handler.py
index d30b938..71e7c6a 100644
--- a/assemblyline_service_client/task_handler.py
+++ b/assemblyline_service_client/task_handler.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def cleanup_working_directory(self, folder_path):
                 except Exception:
                     pass
 
-    def request_with_retries(self, method: str, url: str, max_retry=None, **kwargs):
+    def request_with_retries(self, method: str, url: str, get_api_response=True, max_retry=None, **kwargs):
         if 'headers' in kwargs:
             self.session.headers.update(kwargs['headers'])
             kwargs.pop('headers')
@@ -188,13 +188,16 @@ def request_with_retries(self, method: str, url: str, max_retry=None, **kwargs):
                 func = getattr(self.session, method)
                 resp = func(url, **kwargs)
 
-                if resp.status_code == 400 and resp.json():
-                    self.log.exception(resp.json()['api_error_message'])
-                    raise ServiceServerException(resp.json()['api_error_message'])
-                else:
-                    resp.raise_for_status()
+                if get_api_response:
+                    if resp.status_code == 400 and resp.json():
+                        self.log.exception(resp.json()['api_error_message'])
+                        raise ServiceServerException(resp.json()['api_error_message'])
+                    else:
+                        resp.raise_for_status()
 
-                return resp.json()['api_response']
+                    return resp.json()['api_response']
+                else:
+                    return resp
             except requests.ConnectionError:
                 msg = f"Cannot reach service server. Retrying after {back_off_time}s."
                 if retry < 2:
@@ -349,7 +352,8 @@ def download_file(self, sha256, sid) -> Optional[str]:
         received_file_sha256 = ''
         file_path = None
         self.log.info(f"[{sid}] Downloading file: {sha256}")
-        r = self.request_with_retries('get', self._path('file', sha256), max_retry=3, headers=self.headers)
+        r = self.request_with_retries('get', self._path('file', sha256),
+                                      get_api_response=False, max_retry=3, headers=self.headers)
         if r is not None:
             if r.status_code == 404:
                 self.log.error(f"[{sid}] Requested file not found in the system: {sha256}")