diff --git a/discord/client.py b/discord/client.py
index e2174e069..8cdfd77f4 100644
--- a/discord/client.py
+++ b/discord/client.py
@@ -1376,7 +1376,8 @@ class Client:
                 payload['status'] = status
             if custom_activity != getattr(self.user.settings, 'custom_activity', None):  # type: ignore # user is always present when logged in
                 payload['custom_activity'] = custom_activity
-            await self.user.edit_settings(**payload)  # type: ignore # user is always present when logged in
+            if payload:
+                await self.user.edit_settings(**payload)  # type: ignore # user is always present when logged in
 
         status_str = str(status)
         activities_tuple = tuple(a.to_dict() for a in activities)
diff --git a/discord/errors.py b/discord/errors.py
index 17a719760..ab11f4ec6 100644
--- a/discord/errors.py
+++ b/discord/errors.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ __all__ = (
     'AuthFailure',
     'LoginFailure',
     'ConnectionClosed',
+    'CaptchaRequired',
 )
 
 
@@ -169,6 +170,19 @@ class DiscordServerError(HTTPException):
     pass
 
 
+class CaptchaRequired(HTTPException):
+    """Exception that's raised when a captcha is required and no handler exists.
+
+    Subclass of :exc:`HTTPException`.
+
+    .. versionadded:: 2.0
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, response: _ResponseType, message: Dict[str, Any]):
+        super().__init__(response, {'code': -1, 'message': 'Captcha required'})
+        self.json = message
+
+
 class InvalidData(ClientException):
     """Exception that's raised when the library encounters unknown
     or invalid data from Discord.
diff --git a/discord/http.py b/discord/http.py
index 8f43921fb..a3c8a55c4 100644
--- a/discord/http.py
+++ b/discord/http.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ import weakref
 import aiohttp
 
 from .enums import RelationshipAction, InviteType
-from .errors import HTTPException, Forbidden, NotFound, LoginFailure, DiscordServerError
+from .errors import HTTPException, Forbidden, NotFound, LoginFailure, DiscordServerError, CaptchaRequired
 from .file import File
 from .tracking import ContextProperties
 from . import utils
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ class HTTPClient:
         if reason:
             headers['X-Audit-Log-Reason'] = _uriquote(reason)
 
-        if payload := kwargs.pop('json', None):
+        if payload := kwargs.pop('json', None) is not None:
             headers['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
             kwargs['data'] = utils._to_json(payload)
 
@@ -569,6 +569,8 @@ class HTTPClient:
                         elif response.status >= 500:
                             raise DiscordServerError(response, data)
                         else:
+                            if 'captcha_key' in data:
+                                raise CaptchaRequired(response, data)  # type: ignore # Should not be text at this point
                             raise HTTPException(response, data)
 
                 # This is handling exceptions from the request
@@ -580,22 +582,17 @@ class HTTPClient:
                     raise
 
                 # Captcha handling
-                except HTTPException as e:
-                    try:
-                        captcha_key = data['captcha_key']  # type: ignore # Handled below
-                    except (KeyError, TypeError):
+                except CaptchaRequired as e:
+                    values = [i for i in e.json['captcha_key'] if any(value in i for value in CAPTCHA_VALUES)]
+                    if captcha_handler is None or tries == 4:
+                        raise
+                    elif not values:
                         raise
                     else:
-                        values = [i for i in captcha_key if any(value in i for value in CAPTCHA_VALUES)]
-                        if captcha_handler is None or tries == 4:
-                            raise HTTPException(e.response, {'code': -1, 'message': 'Captcha required'}) from e
-                        elif not values:
-                            raise
-                        else:
-                            previous = payload or {}
-                            previous['captcha_key'] = await captcha_handler.fetch_token(data, self.proxy, self.proxy_auth)  # type: ignore # data is json here
-                            kwargs['headers']['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
-                            kwargs['data'] = utils._to_json(previous)
+                        previous = payload or {}
+                        previous['captcha_key'] = await captcha_handler.fetch_token(e.json, self.proxy, self.proxy_auth)
+                        kwargs['headers']['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'
+                        kwargs['data'] = utils._to_json(previous)
 
             if response is not None:
                 # We've run out of retries, raise