diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/cache.ts b/lib/workers/repository/cache.ts
index 47b9f83928018e4fb6370f071b2655895bfb7279..5ef775c4a1ace91f065a01345f6565e209ef03bf 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/cache.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/cache.ts
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ async function generateBranchCache(branch: BranchConfig): Promise<BranchCache> {
       isModified,
       upgrades,
     };
-  } catch (err) {
+  } catch (error) {
+    const err = error.err || error; // external host error nests err
     const errCodes = [401, 404];
     // istanbul ignore if
     if (errCodes.includes(err.response?.statusCode)) {