diff --git a/www/activities/foodlist/js/usda.js b/www/activities/foodlist/js/usda.js
index c28260433..8c65483f0 100644
--- a/www/activities/foodlist/js/usda.js
+++ b/www/activities/foodlist/js/usda.js
@@ -212,18 +212,35 @@ app.USDA = {
       let url = "https://api.nal.usda.gov/fdc/v1/foods/search?api_key=" + encodeURIComponent(key) + "&query=cheese";
 
       let response = await app.Utils.timeoutFetch(url).catch((err) => {
-        resolve(false);
+        resolve({
+          valid: false,
+          reason: "network"
+        });
       });
 
-      if (response && response.ok) {
-        let data = await response.json();
-        if (data.error && data.error.code == "API_KEY_INVALID")
-          resolve(false);
-        else
-          resolve(true);
+      if (response) {
+        if (response.ok) {
+          resolve({
+            valid: true
+          });
+        } else {
+          let data = await response.json().catch((err) => undefined);
+          let code = data && data.error && data.error.code;
+
+          let reason;
+          if (code == "OVER_RATE_LIMIT" || response.status == 429)
+            reason = "rate-limit";
+          else if (code == "API_KEY_INVALID" || response.status == 403)
+            reason = "invalid-key";
+          else
+            reason = "network";
+
+          resolve({
+            valid: false,
+            reason: reason
+          });
+        }
       }
-
-      resolve(false);
     });
   }
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/www/activities/settings/js/settings.js b/www/activities/settings/js/settings.js
index 8376375da..da9cc3851 100644
--- a/www/activities/settings/js/settings.js
+++ b/www/activities/settings/js/settings.js
@@ -346,11 +346,19 @@ app.Settings = {
   saveUSDAKey: async function(key) {
     let screen = document.querySelector(".usda-login");
     if (app.Utils.isInternetConnected()) {
-      if (key == "" || await app.USDA.testApiKey(key)) {
+      let result = key == "" ? { valid: true } : await app.USDA.testApiKey(key);
+
+      if (result.valid) {
         this.put("integration", "usda-key", key);
         app.f7.loginScreen.close(screen);
         let msg = app.strings.settings.integration["login-success"] || "Login Successful";
         app.Utils.toast(msg);
+      } else if (result.reason == "rate-limit") {
+        let msg = app.strings.settings.integration["usda-rate-limited"] || "USDA rate limit reached, try again later";
+        app.Utils.toast(msg);
+      } else if (result.reason == "network") {
+        let msg = app.strings.settings.integration["usda-key-check-failed"] || "Couldn't verify key, check your connection and try again";
+        app.Utils.toast(msg);
       } else {
         let msg = app.strings.settings.integration["invalid-api-key"] || "API Key Invalid";
         app.Utils.toast(msg);
diff --git a/www/assets/locales/locale-en.json b/www/assets/locales/locale-en.json
index 685c0f6fc..89503d03b 100644
--- a/www/assets/locales/locale-en.json
+++ b/www/assets/locales/locale-en.json
@@ -395,6 +395,8 @@
       "save": "Save",
       "invalid-credentials": "Invalid Credentials",
       "invalid-api-key": "API Key Invalid",
+      "usda-rate-limited": "USDA rate limit reached, try again later",
+      "usda-key-check-failed": "Couldn't verify key, check your connection and try again",
       "export-success": "Database Exported",
       "export-fail": "Export Failed",
       "import-fail": "Import Failed",