Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/io/OsmServerReader.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/io/OsmServerReader.java	(revision 1237)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/io/OsmServerReader.java	(revision 1238)
@@ -55,4 +55,12 @@
 
         activeConnection.setConnectTimeout(15000);
+        
+        try {
+            activeConnection.connect();
+        }
+        catch (Exception e) {
+            throw new IOException(tr("Couldn't connect to the osm server. Please check your internet connection."));
+        }
+        
         if (isAuthCancelled() && activeConnection.getResponseCode() == 401)
             return null;