diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index ef5066e4a..169627307 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ on:
 jobs:
   update-docs-branch:
     runs-on: ubuntu-20.04 # latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write # allow push
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/test/appexit_http.py b/test/appexit_http.py
index e7dd09d23..d0ee65db6 100644
--- a/test/appexit_http.py
+++ b/test/appexit_http.py
@@ -81,7 +81,13 @@ def set_stage(stage):
     set_stage(Stage.HttpClientStart)
 
     # HttpClientConnected
-    http_connection = http_connection.result(TIMEOUT)
+    try:
+        http_connection = http_connection.result(TIMEOUT)
+    except Exception:
+        # the internet's a flaky place and this isn't a correctness test
+        print("Connection failed. Exiting out early...")
+        set_stage(Stage.Done)
+
     set_stage(Stage.HttpClientConnected)
 
     # HttpStreamStart
@@ -102,8 +108,12 @@ def on_incoming_body(http_stream, chunk):
     set_stage(Stage.HttpStreamReceivingBody)
 
     # HttpStreamDone
-    status_code = http_stream.completion_future.result(TIMEOUT)
-    assert(status_code == 200)
+    try:
+        status_code = http_stream.completion_future.result(TIMEOUT)
+    except Exception:
+        # the internet's a flaky place and this isn't a correctness test
+        print("Request failed. Continuing with cleanup...")
+
     del http_stream
     del request
     set_stage(Stage.HttpStreamDone)