diff --git a/footprints/main/utils.py b/footprints/main/utils.py
index d782b0fed..0db90d1c2 100644
--- a/footprints/main/utils.py
+++ b/footprints/main/utils.py
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ def get_geoname_by_id(self, gid):
                'username={}&type=json&geonameId={}').format(
                    settings.GEONAMES_KEY, gid)
         results = requests.get(url)
+
+        if results.status_code == 404:
+            raise ValueError(f"Geoname ID {gid} not found.")
+
         the_json = results.json()
 
         pt = Point(float(the_json['lng']), float(the_json['lat']))