diff --git a/dist/setup/index.js b/dist/setup/index.js
index 8dd57530..ce71b369 100644
--- a/dist/setup/index.js
+++ b/dist/setup/index.js
@@ -97562,21 +97562,20 @@ function installCpythonFromRelease(release) {
         catch (err) {
             if (err instanceof tc.HTTPError) {
                 const statusCode = err.httpStatusCode;
-                if (statusCode === 403 || statusCode === 429) {
-                    const rateLimitMessage = `HTTP ${statusCode} - Rate limit likely exceeded. This is typically due to too many requests or insufficient permissions.`;
-                    core.info(rateLimitMessage);
-                    if (err.stack) {
-                        core.debug(err.stack);
-                    }
-                    throw new Error(rateLimitMessage);
+                if (statusCode === 429) {
+                    // Too Many Requests - usually temporary and can be retried
+                    core.info(`Received HTTP status code ${statusCode}. This usually indicates the rate limit has been exceeded. Consider retrying after some time.`);
+                }
+                else if (statusCode === 403) {
+                    // Forbidden - likely a permanent issue
+                    core.error(`Received HTTP status code ${statusCode}. Access is forbidden. Please check your credentials or permissions.`);
                 }
                 else {
-                    const genericErrorMessage = `HTTP ${statusCode} - ${err.message}`;
-                    core.error(genericErrorMessage);
-                    if (err.stack) {
-                        core.debug(err.stack);
-                    }
-                    throw new Error(genericErrorMessage);
+                    // Other HTTP errors
+                    core.info(`Received HTTP error ${statusCode}: ${err.message}`);
+                }
+                if (err.stack) {
+                    core.debug(`Stack trace: ${err.stack}`);
                 }
             }
             throw err;
diff --git a/src/install-python.ts b/src/install-python.ts
index 137dc9d9..ab3b2096 100644
--- a/src/install-python.ts
+++ b/src/install-python.ts
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ async function installPython(workingDirectory: string) {
 }
 
 export async function installCpythonFromRelease(release: tc.IToolRelease) {
-
   if (!release.files || release.files.length === 0) {
     throw new Error('No files found in the release to download.');
   }
@@ -147,18 +146,28 @@ export async function installCpythonFromRelease(release: tc.IToolRelease) {
     await installPython(pythonExtractedFolder);
   } catch (err) {
     if (err instanceof tc.HTTPError) {
-      // Rate limit?
-      if (err.httpStatusCode === 403 || err.httpStatusCode === 429) {
+      const statusCode = err.httpStatusCode;
+
+      if (statusCode === 429) {
+        // Too Many Requests - usually temporary and can be retried
         core.info(
-          `Received HTTP status code ${err.httpStatusCode}.  This usually indicates the rate limit has been exceeded`
+          `Received HTTP status code ${statusCode}. This usually indicates the rate limit has been exceeded. Consider retrying after some time.`
+        );
+      } else if (statusCode === 403) {
+        // Forbidden - likely a permanent issue
+        core.error(
+          `Received HTTP status code ${statusCode}. Access is forbidden. Please check your credentials or permissions.`
         );
       } else {
-        core.info(err.message);
+        // Other HTTP errors
+        core.info(`Received HTTP error ${statusCode}: ${err.message}`);
       }
+
       if (err.stack) {
-        core.debug(err.stack);
+        core.debug(`Stack trace: ${err.stack}`);
       }
     }
+
     throw err;
   }
 }