diff --git a/lib/platform/github/index.js b/lib/platform/github/index.js
index 5395eb71e9..e6cd9aad16 100644
--- a/lib/platform/github/index.js
+++ b/lib/platform/github/index.js
@@ -237,6 +237,9 @@ async function initRepo({
     if (err.message === 'fork') {
       throw err;
     }
+    if (err.message === 'Response code 451 (Unavailable for Legal Reasons)') {
+      throw new Error('forbidden');
+    }
     logger.info({ err }, 'Unknown GitHub initRepo error');
     throw err;
   }