diff --git a/botocore/handlers.py b/botocore/handlers.py
index c60ae31656..9a7f78acef 100644
--- a/botocore/handlers.py
+++ b/botocore/handlers.py
@@ -1265,7 +1265,7 @@ def _update_status_code(response, **kwargs):
         return
     http_response, parsed = response
     parsed_status_code = parsed.get('ResponseMetadata', {}).get(
-        'HTTPStatusCode'
+        'HTTPStatusCode', http_response.status_code
     )
     if http_response.status_code != parsed_status_code:
         http_response.status_code = parsed_status_code