diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs
index 9d88a75e7..5362fc4e0 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Download/Clients/Sabnzbd/Sabnzbd.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ using NzbDrone.Common.Disk;
 using NzbDrone.Common.Extensions;
 using NzbDrone.Common.Http;
 using NzbDrone.Core.Configuration;
+using NzbDrone.Core.Exceptions;
 using NzbDrone.Core.Parser.Model;
 using NzbDrone.Core.Validation;
 using NzbDrone.Core.RemotePathMappings;
@@ -40,12 +41,12 @@ namespace NzbDrone.Core.Download.Clients.Sabnzbd
 
             var response = _proxy.DownloadNzb(fileContent, filename, category, priority, Settings);
 
-            if (response != null && response.Ids.Any())
+            if (response == null || response.Ids.Empty())
             {
-                return response.Ids.First();
+                throw new DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(remoteEpisode.Release, "SABnzbd rejected the NZB for an unknown reason");
             }
 
-            return null;
+            return response.Ids.First();
         }
 
         private IEnumerable<DownloadClientItem> GetQueue()
diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/Exceptions/DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Exceptions/DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e7cee87d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/Exceptions/DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+using System;
+using NzbDrone.Core.Parser.Model;
+
+namespace NzbDrone.Core.Exceptions
+{
+    public class DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException : ReleaseDownloadException
+    {
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message, params object[] args)
+            : base(release, message, args)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message)
+            : base(release, message)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message, Exception innerException, params object[] args)
+            : base(release, message, innerException, args)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException(ReleaseInfo release, string message, Exception innerException)
+            : base(release, message, innerException)
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj b/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj
index 312397fa0..6a03f4386 100644
--- a/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj
+++ b/src/NzbDrone.Core/NzbDrone.Core.csproj
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@
     <Compile Include="Datastore\Migration\126_add_custom_filters.cs" />
     <Compile Include="DecisionEngine\Specifications\MultiSeasonSpecification.cs" />
     <Compile Include="DecisionEngine\Specifications\UpgradeAllowedSpecification.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Exceptions\DownloadClientRejectedReleaseException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Exceptions\SearchFailedException.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Extras\Metadata\MetadataSectionType.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Download\Aggregation\RemoteEpisodeAggregationService.cs" />