diff --git a/clients/java/signalr/src/main/java/com/microsoft/aspnet/signalr/HubConnection.java b/clients/java/signalr/src/main/java/com/microsoft/aspnet/signalr/HubConnection.java
index 34c9619fff..6bea115c1a 100644
--- a/clients/java/signalr/src/main/java/com/microsoft/aspnet/signalr/HubConnection.java
+++ b/clients/java/signalr/src/main/java/com/microsoft/aspnet/signalr/HubConnection.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public class HubConnection {
                 if (handshakeResponse.error != null) {
                     String errorMessage = "Error in handshake " + handshakeResponse.error;
                     logger.log(LogLevel.Error, errorMessage);
-                    throw new Exception(errorMessage);
+                    throw new HubException(errorMessage);
                 }
                 handshakeReceived = true;
 
diff --git a/clients/java/signalr/src/test/java/HubConnectionTest.java b/clients/java/signalr/src/test/java/HubConnectionTest.java
index d3780afa76..c45fd8e552 100644
--- a/clients/java/signalr/src/test/java/HubConnectionTest.java
+++ b/clients/java/signalr/src/test/java/HubConnectionTest.java
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import static org.junit.Assert.*;
 public class HubConnectionTest {
     private static final String RECORD_SEPARATOR = "\u001e";
 
+    @Rule
+    public ExpectedException exceptionRule = ExpectedException.none();
+
     @Test
     public void checkHubConnectionState() throws Exception {
         Transport mockTransport = new MockTransport();
@@ -40,6 +43,18 @@ public class HubConnectionTest {
         assertEquals(HubConnectionState.DISCONNECTED, hubConnection.getConnectionState());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void HubConnectionReceiveHandshakeResponseWithError() throws Exception {
+        exceptionRule.expect(HubException.class);
+        exceptionRule.expectMessage("Requested protocol 'messagepack' is not available.");
+
+        MockTransport mockTransport = new MockTransport();
+        HubConnection hubConnection = new HubConnection("http://example.com", mockTransport);
+
+        hubConnection.start();
+        mockTransport.receiveMessage("{\"error\": \"Requested protocol 'messagepack' is not available.\"}" + RECORD_SEPARATOR);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void RegisteringMultipleHandlersAndBothGetTriggered() throws Exception {
         AtomicReference<Double> value = new AtomicReference<>(0.0);
@@ -673,9 +688,6 @@ public class HubConnectionTest {
         assertEquals(HubConnectionState.DISCONNECTED, hubConnection.getConnectionState());
     }
 
-    @Rule
-    public ExpectedException exceptionRule = ExpectedException.none();
-
     @Test
     public void CannotSendBeforeStart() throws Exception {
         exceptionRule.expect(HubException.class);