diff --git a/lib/datasource/datasource.ts b/lib/datasource/datasource.ts
index 441bf780e876766fe1ae1864a5e858851ba948d5..5b2a2f68e02a178ef8f396ddff4d9f24646017a9 100644
--- a/lib/datasource/datasource.ts
+++ b/lib/datasource/datasource.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ export abstract class Datasource implements DatasourceApi {
   handleSpecificErrors(err: HttpError): void {}
 
   protected handleGenericErrors(err: HttpError): never {
+    // istanbul ignore if: not easy testable with nock
+    if (err instanceof ExternalHostError) {
+      throw err;
+    }
     this.handleSpecificErrors(err);
     if (err.response?.statusCode !== undefined) {
       if (