diff --git a/revolut/base.py b/revolut/base.py
index 8dbb986..c8df4ab 100644
--- a/revolut/base.py
+++ b/revolut/base.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def _request(self, func, path, data=None):
         if rsp.status_code != 204:
             result = rsp.json(parse_float=Decimal)
         if rsp.status_code < 200 or rsp.status_code >= 300:
-            message = getattr(result, "message", "No message supplied")
+            message = result.get("message", "No message supplied")
             _log.error("HTTP {} for {}: {}".format(rsp.status_code, url, message))
             if rsp.status_code in (400, 422):
                 if "o pocket found" in message:
diff --git a/revolut/business.py b/revolut/business.py
index 4aa6748..9c61c71 100644
--- a/revolut/business.py
+++ b/revolut/business.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def counterparties(self):
         return self._counterparties
 
     def _refresh_counterparties(self):
-        self._counterparties = self._cptbyaccount = {}
+        self._counterparties = self._cptbyaccount = None
         _ = self.counterparties
 
     def transactions(
diff --git a/tests/test_business.py b/tests/test_business.py
index ff669e3..007ed7a 100644
--- a/tests/test_business.py
+++ b/tests/test_business.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ def test_refresh_token_via_renewable_session(self):
         self.assertIsNotNone(sess.access_token)
         self.assertIn("grant_type=refresh_token", responses.calls[0].request.body)
 
-
 class TestRevolutBusiness(TestCase, JSONResponsesMixin):
     access_token = "oa_sand_lI35rv-tpvl0qsKa5OJGW5yiiXtKg7uZYB6b0jmLSCk"
 
@@ -67,16 +66,19 @@ def test_key(self):
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_404(self):
+        message = "The requested resource not found"
         responses.add(
             responses.GET,
             "https://sandbox-b2b.revolut.com/api/1.0/whatever",
-            json={"message": "The requested resource not found"},
+            json={"message": message},
             status=404,
         )
 
         tssn = TemporarySession(self.access_token)
         cli = BusinessClient(tssn)
-        self.assertRaises(exceptions.RevolutHttpError, cli._get, "whatever")
+        with self.assertRaises(exceptions.RevolutHttpError) as cm:
+            cli._get("whatever")
+        self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), message)
 
     @responses.activate
     def test_accounts(self):