diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 23c03e24fc..152ae4fac1 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ The following tip changes can be tested by building VictoriaMetrics components f
 
 * BUGFIX: [MetricsQL](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/MetricsQL.html): properly convert [VictoriaMetrics historgram buckets](https://valyala.medium.com/improving-histogram-usability-for-prometheus-and-grafana-bc7e5df0e350) to Prometheus histogram buckets when VictoriaMetrics histogram contain zero buckets. Previously these buckets were ignored, and this could lead to missing Prometheus histogram buckets after the conversion. Thanks to @zklapow for [the fix](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/pull/4021).
 * BUGFIX: properly support comma-separated filters inside [retention filters](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#retention-filters). See [this issue](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/3915).
+* BUGFIX: verify response code when fetching configuration files via HTTP. See [this issue](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/issues/4034).
 
 ## [v1.87.4](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases/tag/v1.87.4)
 
diff --git a/lib/fs/fs.go b/lib/fs/fs.go
index 81d77911bb..a42cb988cc 100644
--- a/lib/fs/fs.go
+++ b/lib/fs/fs.go
@@ -439,6 +439,11 @@ func ReadFileOrHTTP(path string) ([]byte, error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot fetch %q: %w", path, err)
 		}
+
+		if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected status code when fetching %q: %d, expecting %d", path, resp.StatusCode, http.StatusOK)
+		}
+
 		data, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
 		_ = resp.Body.Close()
 		if err != nil {