diff --git a/api/jreleaser-resource-bundle/src/main/resources/org/jreleaser/bundle/Messages.properties b/api/jreleaser-resource-bundle/src/main/resources/org/jreleaser/bundle/Messages.properties
index 9c48939bc..416082c14 100644
--- a/api/jreleaser-resource-bundle/src/main/resources/org/jreleaser/bundle/Messages.properties
+++ b/api/jreleaser-resource-bundle/src/main/resources/org/jreleaser/bundle/Messages.properties
@@ -715,6 +715,7 @@ nexus.wait.operation                    = This operation may take some time. Ple
 nexus.wait.repository.state             = waiting for staged repository ({}) state to be one of {}
 nexus.wait.repository.transitioning     = repository {} is still transitioning
 nexus.wait.repository.invalid.state     = repository {} is not in expected state(s). Expected one of {}, actual is {}
+ERROR_nexus_forbidden                   = Operation not authorized. Please review your credentials and try again.
 ERROR_nexus_find_staging_profile        = Could not find a staging profile matching {}
 ERROR_nexus_create_staging_repository   = Could not create a staging repository for {}
 ERROR_nexus_close_repository            = Could not close staging repository {}
diff --git a/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/Nexus2MavenDeployer.java b/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/Nexus2MavenDeployer.java
index 83558906e..65b7cdc63 100644
--- a/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/Nexus2MavenDeployer.java
+++ b/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/Nexus2MavenDeployer.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import org.jreleaser.model.internal.JReleaserContext;
 import org.jreleaser.model.spi.deploy.DeployException;
 import org.jreleaser.sdk.commons.AbstractMavenDeployer;
+import org.jreleaser.sdk.nexus2.api.NexusAPIException;
 
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -83,6 +84,12 @@ public void deploy(String name) throws DeployException {
                 stagingProfileId = nexus.findStagingProfileId(groupId);
             } catch (Nexus2Exception e) {
                 context.getLogger().trace(e);
+                if (e.getCause() instanceof NexusAPIException) {
+                    NexusAPIException ne = (NexusAPIException) e.getCause();
+                    if (ne.isUnauthorized() || ne.isForbidden()) {
+                        throw new DeployException(RB.$("ERROR_nexus_forbidden"), e);
+                    }
+                }
                 throw new DeployException(RB.$("ERROR_nexus_find_staging_profile", groupId), e);
             }
 
diff --git a/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/api/NexusAPIException.java b/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/api/NexusAPIException.java
index c4929b40a..97e55a4b4 100644
--- a/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/api/NexusAPIException.java
+++ b/sdks/jreleaser-nexus2-java-sdk/src/main/java/org/jreleaser/sdk/nexus2/api/NexusAPIException.java
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public NexusAPIException(int status, String reason) {
     }
 
     public NexusAPIException(int status, String reason, Map<String, Collection<String>> headers) {
+        super(status + ": " + reason);
         this.status = status;
         this.reason = reason;
         this.headers = headers;
@@ -59,4 +60,8 @@ public boolean isNotFound() {
     public boolean isForbidden() {
         return 403 == status;
     }
+
+    public boolean isUnauthorized() {
+        return 401 == status;
+    }
 }