diff --git a/src/pdl/pdl_interpreter.py b/src/pdl/pdl_interpreter.py
index 52b84723a..e20ff3004 100644
--- a/src/pdl/pdl_interpreter.py
+++ b/src/pdl/pdl_interpreter.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Generator, Optional, Sequence, TypeVar
 
+import httpx
 import litellm
 import yaml
 from jinja2 import (
@@ -1140,8 +1141,15 @@ def get_transformed_inputs(kwargs):
         if block.modelResponse is not None:
             scope = scope | {block.modelResponse: raw_result}
         return result, background, scope, trace
+    except httpx.RequestError as exc:
+        message = f"model '{block.model}' encountered {repr(exc)} trying to {exc.request.method} against {exc.request.url}"
+        raise PDLRuntimeError(
+            message,
+            loc=loc,
+            trace=ErrorBlock(msg=message, location=loc, program=concrete_block),
+        ) from exc
     except Exception as exc:
-        message = f"Error during model call: {repr(exc)}"
+        message = f"Error during '{block.model}' model call: {repr(exc)}"
         raise PDLRuntimeError(
             message,
             loc=loc,