diff --git a/fsspec/implementations/http.py b/fsspec/implementations/http.py
index 7386d4b80..998d8ed1c 100644
--- a/fsspec/implementations/http.py
+++ b/fsspec/implementations/http.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ async def gen_chunks():
         async with meth(self.encode_url(rpath), data=gen_chunks(), **kw) as resp:
             self._raise_not_found_for_status(resp, rpath)
 
-    async def _exists(self, path, **kwargs):
+    async def _exists(self, path, strict=False, **kwargs):
         kw = self.kwargs.copy()
         kw.update(kwargs)
         try:
@@ -326,7 +326,10 @@ async def _exists(self, path, **kwargs):
             async with r:
                 return r.status < 400
         except aiohttp.ClientError:
-            return False
+            if strict:
+                raise
+            else:
+                return False
 
     async def _isfile(self, path, **kwargs):
         return await self._exists(path, **kwargs)