diff --git a/lib/user-methods.js b/lib/user-methods.js
index 2414c101..216476ee 100644
--- a/lib/user-methods.js
+++ b/lib/user-methods.js
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ function refreshAccessToken(user, localRealmPath, realmUrl) {
         headers: postHeaders
     };
     performFetch(url, options)
-        // in case something lower in the HTTP stack breaks, try again in 10 seconds
-        .catch(() => setTimeout(() => refreshAccessToken(user, localRealmPath, realmUrl), 10 * 1000))
         .then((response) => response.json().then((json) => { return { response, json }; }))
         .then((responseAndJson) => {
             const response = responseAndJson.response;
@@ -112,7 +110,11 @@ function refreshAccessToken(user, localRealmPath, realmUrl) {
                 }
             }
         })
-        .catch((e) => print_error(e));
+        .catch((e) => {
+            print_error(e);
+            // in case something lower in the HTTP stack breaks, try again in 10 seconds
+            setTimeout(() => refreshAccessToken(user, localRealmPath, realmUrl), 10 * 1000);
+        })
 }
 
 /**
@@ -291,7 +293,6 @@ const instanceMethods = {
                                 throw new AuthError(body);
                             });
                     } else {
-
                         return response.json();
                     }
                 });