@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import os
 import re
+from http import HTTPStatus
 from typing import Any, BinaryIO, cast, TYPE_CHECKING
 from urllib import parse
 
@@ -756,7 +757,7 @@ def http_request(
             ):
                 continue
 
-            error_message = result.content
+            error_message: str | bytes = result.content
             try:
                 error_json = result.json()
                 for k in ("message", "error"):
@@ -765,6 +766,15 @@ def http_request(
             except (KeyError, ValueError, TypeError):
                 pass
 
+            if not error_message:
+                # Bodyless responses, such as HEAD errors, do not carry a
+                # GitLab error message. Use the HTTP reason phrase instead.
+                try:
+                    default_reason = HTTPStatus(result.status_code).phrase
+                except ValueError:
+                    default_reason = ""
+                error_message = result.reason or default_reason
+
             if result.status_code == 401:
                 raise gitlab.exceptions.GitlabAuthenticationError(
                     response_code=result.status_code,
 
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 import responses
 from requests.structures import CaseInsensitiveDict
 
+from gitlab.exceptions import GitlabHeadError
 from gitlab.v4.objects import ProjectFile
 
 file_path = "app/models/key.rb"
@@ -62,6 +63,26 @@ def test_head_repository_file(project, resp_head_repository_file):
     assert headers["X-Gitlab-File-Path"] == file_path
 
 
+@responses.activate
+def test_head_repository_file_error_without_body(project):
+    missing_file_path = "nonexistent.yaml"
+    encoded_path = quote(missing_file_path, safe="")
+    responses.add(
+        method=responses.HEAD,
+        url=f"http://localhost/api/v4/projects/1/repository/files/{encoded_path}",
+        status=404,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(GitlabHeadError) as exc_info:
+        project.files.head(missing_file_path, ref=ref)
+
+    error = exc_info.value
+    assert error.response_code == 404
+    assert error.response_body == b""
+    assert error.error_message == "Not Found"
+    assert str(error) == "404: Not Found"
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def resp_get_repository_file():
     file_response = {
 
@@ -530,6 +530,46 @@ def test_head_request(gl):
     assert result["X-Total"] == "1"
 
 
+@responses.activate
+def test_head_request_error_without_body_uses_reason(gl):
+    url = "http://localhost/api/v4/not_there"
+    responses.add(
+        method=responses.HEAD,
+        url=url,
+        status=404,
+        match=helpers.MATCH_EMPTY_QUERY_PARAMS,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(GitlabHttpError) as exc_info:
+        gl.http_head("/not_there")
+
+    error = exc_info.value
+    assert error.response_code == 404
+    assert error.response_body == b""
+    assert error.error_message == "Not Found"
+    assert str(error) == "404: Not Found"
+
+
+@responses.activate
+def test_http_request_error_message_takes_precedence_over_reason(gl):
+    url = "http://localhost/api/v4/not_there"
+    responses.add(
+        method=responses.GET,
+        url=url,
+        json={"message": "File Not Found"},
+        status=404,
+        match=helpers.MATCH_EMPTY_QUERY_PARAMS,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(GitlabHttpError) as exc_info:
+        gl.http_get("/not_there")
+
+    error = exc_info.value
+    assert error.response_body == b'{"message": "File Not Found"}'
+    assert error.error_message == "File Not Found"
+    assert str(error) == "404: File Not Found"
+
+
 @responses.activate
 def test_list_request(gl):
     url = "http://localhost/api/v4/projects"