diff --git a/backend/app/services/llm.py b/backend/app/services/llm.py
index 69f1290..f5b54eb 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/llm.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/llm.py
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ async def generate_answer(query: str, context: str) -> str | None:
         },
     )
     if response.status_code != 200:
-        logger.error("LLM API error [%s]: %s", response.status_code, await response.aread())
-        return None
+        body = await response.aread()
+        logger.error("LLM API error [%s]: %s", response.status_code, body)
+        return f"LLM API error [{response.status_code}]: {body.decode(errors='replace')}"
     data = response.json()
     if "choices" not in data or not data["choices"]:
         logger.error("LLM response missing choices: %s", data.get("error", data))
-        return None
+        return f"LLM response error: {data.get('error', data)}"
     return data["choices"][0]["message"]["content"]