diff --git a/Service/Validate/Vatlayer.php b/Service/Validate/Vatlayer.php
index 3537e07..474dc39 100644
--- a/Service/Validate/Vatlayer.php
+++ b/Service/Validate/Vatlayer.php
@@ -96,10 +96,18 @@ public function validateVATNumber(string $vatNumber, string $countryIso2): bool
             throw new ValidationFailedException('Vatlayer could not be queried ' . $result['error']['info']);
         }
 
-        if (! isset($result['valid'])) {
+        if ((! isset($result['valid'])) || (! isset($result['database']))) {
             throw new ValidationIgnoredException('Vatlayer did not return validation');
         }
 
+        if ($result['database'] === 'failure') {
+            throw new ValidationFailedException('Vatlayer returns: database failure (could not connect to member state)');
+        }
+
+        if ($result['database'] !== 'ok') {
+            throw new ValidationFailedException('Vatlayer database not ok');
+        }
+
         return (bool)$result['valid'];
     }
 }