diff --git a/lib/net/networking_utils.js b/lib/net/networking_utils.js
index 0481b025cd..f76b2ad630 100644
--- a/lib/net/networking_utils.js
+++ b/lib/net/networking_utils.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ goog.provide('shaka.net.NetworkingUtils');
 
 goog.require('goog.Uri');
 goog.require('shaka.net.NetworkingEngine');
+goog.require('shaka.util.Error');
 
 
 /**
@@ -30,13 +31,21 @@ shaka.net.NetworkingUtils = class {
     const type = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.RequestType.MANIFEST;
 
     const request = shaka.net.NetworkingEngine.makeRequest([uri], retryParams);
-    request.method = 'HEAD';
 
-    const response = await netEngine.request(type, request).promise;
+    try {
+      request.method = 'HEAD';
+      const response = await netEngine.request(type, request).promise;
+      mimeType = response.headers['content-type'];
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (error && error.code == shaka.util.Error.Code.HTTP_ERROR) {
+        request.method = 'GET';
+        const response = await netEngine.request(type, request).promise;
+        mimeType = response.headers['content-type'];
+      }
+    }
 
     // https://bit.ly/2K9s9kf says this header should always be available,
     // but just to be safe:
-    mimeType = response.headers['content-type'];
     return mimeType ? mimeType.toLowerCase().split(';').shift() : '';
   }