diff --git a/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.js b/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.js
index 55f5942ae93..57d234f6d6e 100644
--- a/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.js
+++ b/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.js
@@ -53,18 +53,16 @@ export function useMonitorInternetConnection() {
 		}
 
 		try {
-			const connectionCheckResponse = await apiFetch( {
-				path: '/google-site-kit/v1/',
-			} );
-
-			// We are only interested if the request was successful, to
-			// confirm online status.
-			const canReachConnectionCheck = !! connectionCheckResponse;
-
-			setIsOnline( canReachConnectionCheck );
+			await apiFetch( { path: '/google-site-kit/v1/' } );
 		} catch ( err ) {
-			setIsOnline( false );
+			if ( err?.code === 'fetch_error' ) {
+				setIsOnline( false );
+				return;
+			}
 		}
+		// If the request succeeded or failed for any other reason,
+		// we should still be online.
+		setIsOnline( true );
 	}, [ setIsOnline ] );
 
 	useLifecycles(
diff --git a/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.test.js b/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.test.js
index 51474bc3ded..9d2006e94a8 100644
--- a/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.test.js
+++ b/assets/js/hooks/useMonitorInternetConnection.test.js
@@ -177,4 +177,21 @@ describe( 'useMonitorInternetConnection', () => {
 
 		expect( fetchMock ).toHaveFetchedTimes( 1 );
 	} );
+
+	it( 'should set offline status when a fetch_error occurs', async () => {
+		fetchMock.getOnce( connectionCheckEndpoint, {
+			throws: { code: 'fetch_error' },
+		} );
+
+		renderHook( () => useMonitorInternetConnection(), { registry } );
+		mockOnlineStatus( true );
+
+		await act( async () => {
+			global.window.dispatchEvent( new Event( 'online' ) );
+			await waitForTimeouts( 100 );
+		} );
+
+		expect( store.getState().isOnline ).toBe( false );
+		expect( fetchMock ).toHaveFetched( connectionCheckEndpoint );
+	} );
 } );